As a vegan traveler, have you ever been excited for a hotel breakfast, only to find your options limited to fruit and toast?
You’re not alone. On a recent stay at Homewood Suites by Hilton, I delved into their four-week suggested hot food rotation menu, hoping to find more inclusive options. What I discovered was a menu heavily reliant on animal products, highlighting a significant gap in catering to plant-based diets. But don’t lose heart! With some simple changes, hotels like Homewood Suites can easily make breakfast a delightful experience for everyone. Here's how we can push for a more inclusive and nutritious start to our day, even when we're on the road.
The Menu Breakdown:
The breakfast options at Homewood Suites are predominantly focused on animal products. Here's a closer look:
Scrambled Eggs, Cheese Omelets, Egg White Frittatas: These are all egg-based and therefore not vegan.
Pork Sausage, Pork Ham, Turkey Sausage, Sliced Sausage, Hardwood Smoked Bacon: These items are meat-based and not suitable for vegans.
Potato Pancakes, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Redskin Potatoes: These could be vegan if prepared without butter or other animal products.
House-Made Quiche or Frittata: Typically contains eggs and cheese, making them non-vegan.
Biscuits & Gravy: Usually made with dairy and meat, these are not vegan-friendly.
Nutritional Gaps:
For vegans, this menu doesn't offer enough plant-based options. A balanced vegan diet includes fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Unfortunately, these essential elements are largely missing from the current offerings.
Steps to Improvement:
Homewood Suites by Hilton could make some simple yet effective changes to better accommodate vegan guests. Here are some ideas:
Scrambled Tofu or Chickpea Omelets: These can be spiced and prepared similarly to traditional scrambled eggs or omelets.
Vegan Sausage or Bacon Alternatives: Plant-based meat alternatives can easily replace traditional breakfast meats.
Plant-Based Milk Options: Providing almond, soy, or oat milk for cereals would be a great addition. I usually ask, but they never have any other options.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Platters: Offering a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables can provide essential nutrients. They do offer this, but the apples were wrapped in plastic!
Whole Grain Cereals and Breads: These staples are vegan-friendly and enjoyed by everyone.
Nut Butters and Spreads: Options like almond butter and peanut butter can offer a protein-rich breakfast choice.
Why This Matters:
According to a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, plant-based diets can lead to lower risks of heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. By incorporating more plant-based options, hotels not only cater to vegan guests but also promote healthier eating habits for all.
Traveling as a vegan shouldn't be a constant struggle to find suitable food. By making these adjustments, Homewood Suites by Hilton, as well as many other places, can lead the way in providing inclusive and healthful breakfast options. As consumers, we have the power to influence these changes.
Let's take action:
Share Your Experience: If you've stayed at a hotel that offered great vegan options, share your story. Highlight the positive and suggest improvements where needed.
Reach Out: Contact hotels directly and request more plant-based options. Your feedback can drive change.
Support Vegan-Friendly Businesses: Choose hotels and restaurants that cater to vegan lifestyles, showing that there is a demand for these options.
Travel should be an enjoyable experience, not a challenge to find suitable food. Let's work together to make vegan options a standard part of hotel menus. Together, we can create a more inclusive world, one meal at a time.
Feel inspired to make a change? Reach out to your favorite hotel chains today and let them know how they can better serve their vegan guests. Your voice matters!
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