What I Eat in a Week as a Vegan in T&T: A Tobago Edition

Whenever people find out I'm vegan, the questions (and jokes) start rolling in. I've heard the same ones over and over, and while some people swear, they could never give up meat or dairy, I just smile, listen, and carry on living my best vegan life. The thing is—this choice is about me. I’m not here to preach or convert anyone. I simply enjoy my food, knowing that it’s the right fit for me—one that also happens to come with some amazing health benefits.

Now, full disclosure: I always joke that I’m mostly vegan, except for when it comes to non-vegan dessert (because, sometimes there’s no alternative, and I love a good slice of cake). While I steer clear of dairy and egg-heavy treats like cheesecake or quiche, I don’t stress over a cookie or a piece of bread if no plant-based option is available.

One of the most common questions I get is, "What do you eat in a day?" and, more specifically, "Where in T&T do you even find vegan food?" My diet is so normal to me that I often forget all the delicious things I eat until someone asks. So, to answer that question properly, I decided to share a week of meals—this time, while I was in Tobago. And yes, much to the chagrin of some loved ones, I have lots of photos of my meals which I always document.

So, if you're curious about what a vegan eats or you're looking for food spots that have plant-based options in Tobago, here’s a snapshot of my week, complete with links to some of my favorite places and (phone) photos of some of the meals!

Monday

Breakfast

Before heading to the airport, I had chia pudding with fruit and pumpkin seeds (not the cute one in the picture—just a quick grab-and-go version eaten in the car).

Lunch

After landing in Tobago, I stopped at Shirvan Plaza and grabbed a small meal of rice, beans, and lots of steamed veggies. Simple and satisfying.

Dinner

Picked up a delicious pasta from The Pasta Gallery—and you can order half sizes, which is perfect for dinner. I also had some wine while waiting, a little celebration for being on my favorite island!

Tuesday

Breakfast

For the rest of the week, breakfast was a variation of the same thing. My gym recently challenged us to go a week without flour or sugar, and I discovered this gem of a meal: sweet potato rounds topped with hummus and tabbouleh. O.M.G. So good and so easy to make! Sometimes I swap the hummus for beans, and it’s still chef’s kiss. I also roasted veggies to add to it on most days so you will see some with tomato, bell peppers and/or mushrooms in the photos.

Lunch

Lunch at Shore Things Café, which is always a must-visit for me. This time, I had a rich, coconut-based callaloo soup (divine!) and shared the Creole plate, packed with rice, lentils, melongene stew, callaloo, corn, plantains, and a fresh green salad. Oh, and let’s not forget dessert—I shared a slice of carrot cake with an espresso. Highly recommend.

Side note: If you go, try the rum punch. Just saying.

Dinner

Leftover pasta and a salad, topped with nutritional yeast and drizzled with olive oil. Simple and delicious.

Wednesday

Lunch

Cooked at home: red beans, basmati rice, and fried plantains (because plantains are life). Also threw together a salad with green olives—forgot I had them in the fridge, and it was such a nice touch!

Dinner

Dinner at The Fish Pot— such a yummy meal with a great mix of items! I had a flavorful bean patty with quinoa, pumpkin, grilled eggplant, patchoi, and mixed veggies. The portion was huge, so I saved half for later.

Thursday

Lunch

Leftovers from Wednesday’s home-cooked meal—plus more fried plantains. Because, again, plantains are life.

Dinner

Originally planned to only eat my leftover Fish Pot meal but a doubles starter got in the mix! This wasn’t just any doubles, though—it was from the vendor who’s gone viral for making “healthy” barra using cassava, beetroot, and other fun ingredients which he fries in an air fryer. I only had one, but I definitely wished I had ordered more. Adding it to my must-visit list for next time!

Friday

Lunch

Kidney beans and rice (yes, I still had leftovers. Normally I would mix up the type of legume, but I didn’t want to overdo on bringing/ buying groceries for my stay), plus—you guessed it—more plantains and salad.

Tea Time (LOL)

Stopped by Tobago Chocolate Delights, which is inside Shore Things Café, to grab my usual stash of chocolates. While there, I figured, why not have an espresso and another half-slice of carrot cake? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Dinner

Dinner at Seahorse Inn. I hadn’t been in years, so I called ahead to check if they had vegan options. They did—a delicious veggie curry with rice, which paired perfectly with my French 75 cocktail. The portion was huge, but I knew it would make the perfect pre-flight meal the next day.

Saturday

Before heading to the airport, I had my usual breakfast and finished off the Seahorse Inn leftovers for lunch. When I returned to Trini I attended a birthday party and my dinner was top notch. The caterer for the party (Hisham from 2 island bwoyz) makes the best tofu, hands down. The sauce? Tangy, sweet, and packed with flavor. The texture? Perfect. I could eat it all day!

Final Thoughts

So there you have it—a full week (almost) of vegan eating in Tobago! I also had many fruits and nuts! Normally, my week would not have that many restaurant meals, but when I’m on the sister isle, I love enjoying the mix of casual food spots and sit-down restaurants (especially when I’m with good company).

If you’re ever in Tobago and looking for places that have vegan-friendly options, check out the places I’ve linked. Special shoutout to Z’s Grill Shack—I didn’t get to visit this time, but Chef Paul always whips up an incredible off-menu vegan meal for me whenever I go. Definitely worth checking out!

Have any favorite spots that have good vegan-friendly meals in T&T? Drop them in the comments—I’m always on the lookout for new places to try!