Meet Aashti Sindhu, Vegan Pilot And Animal Lover

I definitely see vegans becoming less of a minority as the world starts to see the many benefits of this lifestyle.

Meet Aashti Sindhu - a (literally!) high-flying vegan pilot who eats vegan in-flight and on the ground. A quick scroll through her Instagram feed will give you serious #foodgoals and you'll also realize sticking to a vegan diet isn't as difficult as it's made out to be. We spoke to her about what prompted her vegan journey, how she preps for her travels and her tips for the vegan-curious.

When did you decide to go vegan?

My journey to veganism started about 2 years ago. There were a few instances that got me thinking about my food habits which led me down the rabbit hole of animal agriculture and the cruelty behind the industry. I have always been a huge animal lover but ate meat for 30 years of my life without making the connection. I never thought twice about where my food came from and what it had to go through to become that piece of “meat” on my plate.

Aashti has been vegan for 2 years now

A vegan friend once casually mentioned if I had ever looked into a cows’ eyes, while we were talking about how I loved beef. That one sentence unconsciously stuck to me and before I knew it I was watching every documentary and PETA video and I was just heartbroken.

I couldn’t believe the cruelty that these animals faced and I realized I was being hypocritical for loving some and eating others.

I decided to cut meat entirely from my diet for 2 weeks and see how if it worked. Surprisingly, my body reacted positively and I loved how I felt knowing that I wasn’t consciously contributing to animal suffering. However, I didn’t become vegan overnight and was eating seafood once a week for the first 3 to 4 months.

How easy or difficult is it to stick to the diet while flying - do you plan ahead?

It isn’t the easiest but with some planning, it is definitely doable. I plan my meals for the week which makes it much easier and I am not stressed every day trying to think of easy to pack options.

Leftovers from home like these falafel balls and bhindi make for a healthy in-flight meal!

What does a typical flight day look like?

Usually, my flight days start quite early –around 3 to 4 am. My schedule is normally 3 to 4 flights a day with a layover in another city, or if I'm lucky I get to come back home.

Pilots tend to have erratic hours. Did the schedule interfere with your digestive system, ever? Has going vegan helped?

Yes, the hours are the hardest part of this job. Since my timings are extremely erratic, I try and stick to my meal times as much as possible and I think that has helped a lot along with being vegan. I noticed that I had a lot more energy and was recovering much faster from workouts too, without any protein powders or supplements. Just a regular whole food plant-based diet.

Meal on board: sauteed mushrooms with spinach, rice, and roasted nuts

What's the best part of being a vegan who gets to travel so much?

The best part is getting to try all the different foods from different cities. I always do some research before visiting a new place and get really excited about trying all their vegan options. At first, I thought I would have to eat meat to experience the culture but there are always some vegetarian items that can be easily veganised and represent the culture as well.

Have you encountered a growing number of vegans while travelling?

I have, actually! It’s great meeting like-minded vegans who are passionate about the cause. I hope to meet many more in my travels over the years and I definitely see us becoming less of a minority as the world starts to see the many benefits of this lifestyle.

Aashti on an off day

IndiGo is pretty good with diabetic-friendly and GF meals - can we expect more vegan in-flight dining options on our favourite airline soon?

I really hope so! As customers, it would be great if you could send that as feedback and I am sure they would be happy to oblige.

And lastly, your favourite in-flight vegan meal or snack?

So since there aren’t any vegan meal options on board, I make a meal out of snacks if I am really hungry and haven’t carried anything from home. The cashews, almonds, banana chips, black coffee are a few of my favourite go-to items. Otherwise, I also tend to pick up stuff from the airport restaurants; my favourite is idli sambhar which is pretty much available at every airport.

Idli sambar is one of Aashti's favourite meals

Your advice for anyone who's looking to go vegan?

My advice for fellow vegans and anyone trying to cut down on meat and dairy from their diet is to do your research extensively. We’ve been taught from a very young age that meat is your only source of protein and we need milk for calcium and healthy bones.

But that could not be further from the truth: have an open mind, do your own research and be prepared to change your life from inside-out. Also be kind to yourself- this is not just a dietary change but a lifestyle change.

Your whole perspective on right and wrong will shift and in this process, you will learn to have a greater appreciation of not just animals but every living being sharing this space with you.

Like this?

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