Published 05/08/2014

If you care about the food you eat and where it comes from, what should you do when you go on holiday? Do you ditch your ethical-eating habits because they seem too tricky to sustain abroad, or do you pick your destination carefully and have courage in your culinary convictions? Naturally, we vote for the latter! To get you started, here are seven holiday hot spots that put ethical eating first.

There are, of course, countless places around the world where you can find a decent vegetarian or flexitarian meal. Big bustling cities with their mix of cultures and ethnicities tend to be a safe bet, especially if they have a lively, forward-thinking student population.

Other destinations, including many in Asia, opt for low-meat or even no-meat diets on religious grounds, while for others, like the Mediterranean countries, it’s a matter of necessity and tradition, brought about by centuries of abundant fruit-and-veg harvests.

Whatever the reason, more humane-sustainable food is popular the world over – you just need to know where to go to find the best.

1. Glasgow, UK

Ever since it was named European City of Culture in 1990, Scotland’s largest city and former industrial giant has worked hard to cultivate a more sophisticated side to its character. The city’s exciting food scene has been a large part of this transformation, with innovative eateries – including many vegetarian and vegan establishments – bursting onto the scene in response to a citywide drive to put health and the planet first.

2. Berlin, Germany

The German capital, which has been a hotbed of countercultures for decades, is today home to a flourishing food scene – one that is really beginning to prioritise fresh, seasonal plant-based produce over the national obsession for bratwurst, schnitzel and cold cuts. This culinary renaissance is being driven by a dynamic student population that cares hugely about animals, people and planet. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere, soak up the history and sleep with a clear foodie conscience.

3. The Mediterranean

The communities that border Europe’s inland sea are known for the health-giving, sustaining diet they’ve enjoyed for centuries. Fresh fruit and vegetables, beans, whole grains, olive oil, the occasional piece of fresh fish and very little meat are thought to be the basis for the much-envied longevity of this sunny population. While you’re here, do as the locals do and linger over your meal, savouring the flavours of the fresh – often organic – ingredients.

4. Jordan

Those who are big on veg will feel immediately at home in this Middle Eastern country. Although meat, particularly lamb and chicken, remain staples throughout the region, mezze dishes – including falafel, hummus, tabouleh and Arabic flatbreads – are also available everywhere you go. What’s more, these humble mini-veggie-dishes are made from the freshest of ingredients. This is flexitarian cuisine of the highest order – only to the locals, there's no fancy word for it like 'flexitarianism'; it’s simply what they’ve always eaten.

5. Southern India

It was in southern India, in ancient times, that vegetarianism was born: compassion towards animals has always loomed large here, for religious and philosophical reasons. Today, a plant-based diet is still dominant, with beautifully spiced rice dishes, dosas and dhals taking centre stage. Whether you’re visiting Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh or Karnataka, be sure to try a vegetable thali to experience the vast array of incredible flavours for which the region has become famous.

6. Chiang Mai, Thailand

The large Buddhist population here makes for a very veg-strong food culture. In fact, in this laid-back, charming city, there are more than 80 vegetarian restaurants to choose from. What’s more telling, though, is that even non-vegetarian restaurants tend to be very accommodating of specific requests from diners, meaning that you could simply order a ‘meatless’ tom yum soup or pad thai, and still enjoy a robust meal. How enlightened.

7. Portland, USA

Oregon’s hippest city gives San Francisco a serious run for its money in the ethical-food stakes. Not only did Portland rank highest in a 2013 list of top vegetarian-friendly cities, but this liberal, eco-friendly place welcomes all manner of dietary preferences. Even fast food takes on new meaning here: the city’s many food-trucks serve veg-heavy, on-the-go snacks that are often organic, including a much-loved brand of vegan doughnuts – no mean feat!