S5 Ep11: Can you be vegan in Antarctica?

S5 Ep11: Can you be vegan in Antarctica?

From Iceworld by British Antarctic Survey

April 7, 2026 · 33 min · Season 5 · Episode 11

About this episode

The episode explores the challenges and experiences of maintaining a vegan diet in Antarctica.

Can you be plant-based in Antarctica? Can you go South if you have food allergies, or other dietary restrictions? What's on the menu when you're 1,000 miles from the nearest supermarket? In this episode of Iceworld, Nadia is joined by three members of the team at King Edward Point - boating officer AJ, station leader Cameron, and doctor Tom - all of whom are vegan. Together, they discuss what it's really like to maintain a plant-based diet at one of the most remote research stations on Earth, from dairy-free milk deliveries to improvised fish pie (not everyone's favourite, it turns out). After that, Nadia speaks with Olivier Hubert, BAS catering manager and experienced chef. Olivier reveals the sheer scale of feeding five Antarctic research stations - some of which receive fresh food just once a year, how the kitchen manages everything from severe allergies to religious dietary requirements, and why a well-timed dessert buffet might just be the most important morale tool on station. Tune in to discover how food becomes far more than fuel at the bottom of the world, and why, when the weather closes in and the workload piles up, a good meal can make all the difference…

People in this episode

Hosts: Nadia, Nadia Frontier

Guests: AJ, Cameron, Tom, Olivier Hubert

Topics covered

  • veganism
  • Antarctica
  • dietary restrictions
  • food
  • research stations

Keywords

  • plant-based diet
  • food allergies
  • catering
  • morale

Mentioned in this episode

Products: dairy-free milk, fish pie

Books & works: Iceworld

Places: Antarctica, South, Earth, Antarctic

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