Lo's Vegan Adventures in Acapulco!

Traveling can be stressful to some of us, so having that added stress of what your going to eat on vacation; especially in a country you don't speak the language, can be even MORE stressful!

I have been to Acapulco a few times before being vegan and I knew exactly what the food situation was like, but I had fears of people asking my why I wasn't eating the typical carnitas or tacos that I used to devour. That in it's self caused anxiety for me, but I mentally and emotionally prepared myself for ignorant comments, questions and judgement. Luckily, everyone was very understanding and could care less... or maybe that was the language barrier? Ignorance is bliss sometimes.

Before leaving on my trip, I did my research on vegan restaurants in Acapulco and I was in luck! Acapulco hosts the one and only vegan restaurant in the whole entire state of Guerrero. Wow! So, I made sure to go and check it out. They offer a store to buy plant based milks, snacks, cereals and other goodies, besides just the restaurant. It truly was a life saver. You want to got to Verde Vegan... it's amazing!

I also knew from my past trips, that restaurants I have eaten at before have vegetarian options, so all I would have to ask is "sin queso" or "sin crema" (without cheese or cream) por favor.

The year before when I was in Acapulco, Ruben and I got very sick. I'm talking 6 days of being bed ridden, little food entering our system and just a walk to the bathroom exhausted me. We never quite figured out if it was the flu; for I was sitting beside two girls who were sick on the plane, or if it was the tamales we ate from a trunk of car... I know, bad! But both of us at the same time became violently sick... maybe it was the tamales and the flu? Any who! That past experience made me more nervous to come back because I didn't want to get sick like that. Usually when you travel to tropical places you get some form of an illness and since my diet was going to be mostly veggies, salads and fruits, I was really scared. Those foods can be a breeding ground for bacteria, that's if they are poorly washed, handled or washed in tap water. Make sure everything is washed with bottled water!

Well, this trip was a pivotal moment in my vegan life. For one full week, I ate the best I think I have ever eaten. Just for one week, I ate the freshest fruit I have ever tasted. Every day for breakfast I had a fruit smoothie, fresh fruit and a small plate of cooked food. I was spoiled rotten! I ate mangos, papaya, guyabas, cantaloupe, pineapples, apples, bananas... you name it! I was in fruit heaven. The salads I ate were packed full of veggies and HUGE! When we ate out, there was always something I could eat. I ate a lot of veggie sushi, or veggie tacos, rice and beans and tortillas and veggie pizza without cheese. I even had oatmeal with coconut milk, vegan and gluten free pancakes and just tons of FRUIT!!

With my new found lifestyle, I didn't have one bathroom episode on my trip. I was full of energy and loving life. It didn't feel as hot as I usually do when I'm there, I wasn't bloated and my skin was loving it. I know it's a combination of sun, no make up, sea water and no stress of work, but the eating of the abundance of fresh fruit and veggies I think really helped. Sometimes I dream about living there and being a beach bumb. But sadly, life in Acapulco would be hard, I mean really hard. But the dream of living in a tropical climate and eating fresh fruit and having a small business to sustain ones self, sounds so freeing... does that even exist?

If you decide to go to Acapulco or anywhere in Mexico, don't be scared. Do your research on where to eat, if you have friends and or family there, they can help you find grocery stores that cater to your needs and cook your own meals if you have the choice. But honestly, be a fruitarian on a tropical trip. It's so freeing and liberating in many ways. Your body will love you for it.

To watch Lo talk about her trip, click here!