If you care about your health (and I know you do), prepping for a trip the right way is important. Whether you’re going on vacation or taking a business trip, you’ll want to prepare a bit before leaving. What do I mean by this? Well, have you ever discovered that it’s hard to find healthy snacks or food in airports? It’s almost impossible! I’m sharing things I buy to bring with me and what I look for when I’m staying at a different area.
When I’m packing for a trip I always save room in my carry-on for healthy snacks. What do I bring? Here are things I’ve had in my backpack in the past:
sugar-free energy bars
a baggie full of nuts and raisins
all natural jerky or beef sticks
an apple (sometimes I’ll slice it and place in a ziplock and add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice so it stays crispy without browning).
dried fruit
a hard boiled egg
sliced up carrots and celery sticks
packets of almond butter
A variety of snacks go in my backpack that I keep under the seat in front of me. That way I can just grab my stash when my tummy growls!
Lara Bars and RX Bars are my favs— All natural ingredients!
Now that you have some ideas on what to bring onto a plane or a car, let me share what I look for when I book a place to stay!
Booking with a full kitchen
Because my husband and I eat mostly whole foods, we like to book a condo or and entire space that at least has a refrigerator. If we can find a reasonable place to stay with a full kitchen, then we are happy as larks!
The rule we have is to eat 90-95% real whole foods so in this case, we will cook our own food many times when we’re out of town. After we pick up a car rental if needed, we usually head to a grocery store to get a few things to add to the fridge. Our staple items are a bin of fresh greens (for salads and smoothies), fruit like bananas and apples, a mini carton of eggs (from pasture-raised chickens if we can find them), and usually some sort of protein (chicken is a favorite). We usually travel to warm places and if there is a grill provided, we are happy as larks!
A portable blender may be a great option if you like to make smoothies while you’re away!
So let’s be real for a minute. I will always share what I do authentically. I love a good red wine once in a while. Yes, this is part of the 5-10% of a treat that we enjoy. You’ve got to have a little joy when you’re on vacation (or even a business trip) so treat yourself somehow.
Eating out
It can be hard to eat healthy food when you go out. I have noticed though, restaurants are getting much better at offering gluten-free options. I’m finding more and more menus showing which dishes are gluten-free. If you ask about this, many will ask if you can’t have gluten at all or if you have an allergy. The same goes with dairy.
I tend to order salads with protein (like grilled chicken for example) and ask for an olive oil-based dressing. I’ll stay away from fried food for the most part but if an outfit offers sweet potatoes fries, sometimes I give in! Again, this is a once in a while treat. You still need to experience JOY when you’re away and have treats here and there.
My husband and I like to eat at the bar areas at different restaurants because we feel like it’s where the action is!
When you’re on vacation, try to eat as healthy as possible but don’t miss any joyful opportunities either! Now, I realize some of you are pretty strict with what you eat and loosen up a little when you’re at an event or on vacation. You are meant to have some fun and if this means sneaking something bad once in a while it’s OK! If you eat whole foods MOST of the time, your body can handle the rest. You can always get back to your regular, healthy diet when you get home to get fully back on track.