Are you traveling for the holidays this year? If so, how do you prepare?
Probably in several ways, right? Are you packing your suitcase, toiletries, and maybe gifts? You also get your house ready to be gone for a few days or the time you’re gone. But are you also preparing in other ways, such as in how you’re going to stick to your healthy or special diet?
Do you often just rely on eating whatever you can find on the road? And do you prepare for the possibility of stress and poor sleep while traveling or do you just wing it? And how’s that working out for you?
Whether you’re traveling by car or plane, maybe if you’re like me, you need to pack some snacks or a lunch because you have food allergies or sensitivities, maybe you have restrictions due to digestive issues or autoimmune issues, or maybe you’re trying to eat as healthy as possible. Plus, you know you may need to stop when there’s no restaurant that has anything you can eat. Or even if you stop at a convenience store, often there’s not much to grab there.
So what can you do? Here are some ideas that I have done to help:
When driving to our destination, I always make up a small lunchbox with food I can eat because I’ve had problems finding anything in the past. Now sometimes I’m able to pick up something at a restaurant on the road, but many times I can’t or either I’m hungry before my family is. So if I bring something, I can eat anytime I need to and then they can stop wherever without worrying about what I can eat.
I have a small insulated lunchbox that fits under my seat in my car. I can pack 2 – 3 freezer packs and fit enough food for a light breakfast and lunch. Now I don’t like using plastic containers much, but I do make exceptions for traveling especially If I’m packing something cold and the food is not heated up anyway. And if I need to toss the plastic container, it’s inexpensive so I can. But other times I use glass containers such as Glasslock and reuse it at a hotel or family member’s house.
What food do I actually pack?
Breakfast – 3 turkey meatballs or turkey sausage links, leftover roasted veggies or a sweet potato cubed, and ¼-1/2 avocado. If I’m eating nuts, I’ll add those and sometimes a few blueberries.
Lunch – small salad with leftover diced chicken, carrots, other veggies, some diced, avocado and berries. And here’s the secret for using salad dressing when traveling. Pour a little in the bottom of your container. Then before eating, shake it and then all your salad will be covered in your dressing. If you put the dressing on top, your salad will be soggy by the time you’re ready to eat it.
Snacks – travel packs of almond or sunflower butter , small bag of seeds or nuts such as macadamia or pumpkin seeds, a whole apple already washed, maybe a couple of mini gluten-free muffins I made and were frozen ( they’ll thaw on the trip), or gluten-free and healthy protein bars I’ve made or bought. Or a trail mix in a snack size baggie of cassava or plantain chips, nuts, and carob/cacao nibs. And I’ll also pack some of my vitamins or supplements.
And don’t forget several napkins and disposable fork, spoon, and knife plus salt and pepper packs.
Then I stash that under my seat. And I know I’ll be able to eat healthy for my travel day which will keep the sugar cravings and hangry monster away.
If we are flying, I’ll pack nut butter or some blueberries in a Ziploc baggie or even a few turkey sausages. I have also brought a gluten-free sandwich and a protein bar. I simply stick this in my backpack or purse.
Now what do I bring to eat once we arrive at our destination – if driving?
If we are staying with family or have a kitchen in an air B and B and we have room, then I’ll pack an ice chest with things like:
Salad
Precut veggies
Leftover grilled chicken, meatballs, roasted veggies
Fruit – apples, grapes, and berries
Hard boiled eggs
2 avocados
But most locations have groceries so you can even pick up food there, of course. Today most stores have healthier food options. You just have to look and make those healthier choices. Stores like Walmart, Whole Foods, Trader Joe, Fresh Market, and many local groceries are selling healthier options.
Now if we are staying at a hotel without a kitchen for a couple of nights like we’ve done recently for weddings, I will pack a small ice chest if they have a mini refrigerator and microwave. I will bring just a few of the foods noted above. Plus, I can usually find a store to pick up a few things if needed.
If going to a wedding and reception or even a holiday dinner, I always eat a small snack before going and include a small protein plus fat and fiber and complex carbs. This might be ½ apple with 1 tablespoon nut butter, hard-boiled egg and ½ avocado, berries and coconut yogurt, or few turkey rolls and nuts, etc. It’s a mini-meal and will help me not be so hungry.
And I realize I’ll just have to make do with wherever we go or the reception food/rehearsal dinner food. If I can eat a snack before the actual event, I’ll be okay even if there’s nothing to eat.
One recent wedding we went to I was only able to eat the veggies but not the meat because it was shellfish or only breaded fried chicken. Many of you can eat that, but I’m gluten-free so couldn’t eat the chicken. Plus, I have a severe shellfish allergy so couldn’t do that. But I could eat the green beans and the apples. And they had a charcuterie board so I picked up veggies and fruit. If you can eat cheese, then that’s also an option.
This is key. I always remind myself while the food is an important part of social events like weddings, holidays, and vacations, the most important part is the people and my relationship with them – not the food. It’s mindset.
Have I ever had a pity party due to not having a lot to choose from? Have I even had a melt down with my hubby mainly because of this? Absolutely.
But usually that’s when I haven’t prepared so I didn’t have enough food in my room that I could eat as a snack prior to the event. So preparation is the key whether at home or when traveling for eating healthy the rest of your life. And mindset. Remind yourself of the reasons why you’re sticking to your goals. Allow yourself a treat but just a small bite or two. You don’t have to eat the entire cake, right?
Supplements – I always carry activated charcoal and digestive enzymes with me when traveling. The enzymes helps with digestion of protein, carbs, and fats. The activated charcoal helps if I have accidentally eaten something I shouldn’t or if I have bloating or pain after eating and don’t know why. It will absorb anything within 2 hours of eating. So don’t take the activated charcoal 2 hours before or after you’re taking medications. And be sure to talk to your doctor about these products before you take them. Ginger and peppermint tablets or lozenges or tea can help calm an upset tummy as well. So I usually pack these, too.
Two other factors affect our health when traveling: stress and sleep.
For stress – practice calming activities such as deep breathing, prayer, listening to music, or reading a book. Plan ahead so you’re not packing at the last minute and that can help decrease stress as well.
Sleeping in a new place and bed often causes insomnia. But there are some things you can do to help. Bring your own pillow and/blanket and try to go to bed around the same time you usually do or take a brief 15 – 30 minute nap in the afternoon (not longer or that will affect your sleep at night). Bring earplugs and/or use a noise cancellation app to help eliminate outside noise disruptions. You can also use a sleeping mask to help eliminate excess light which can affect sleep.
I hope that was helpful for you when traveling. Just plan and prepare so you can enjoy your time traveling plus be able to stick closely to your healthy eating.
And if you’re realizing your health is the best investment you can make and want to begin 2024 making goals and sticking to them with guided support from me, reach out please. I’ve got a special savings going on now for private health coaching. I’d love the opportunity to work with you and help you realize your God-given potential and help you feel better and achieve those goals.
I am a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach who works with women who have brain fog, fatigue, joint pains, weight issues, autoimmune, hormonal, and digestive issues. Since I’m also an autoimmune warrior,, having a thyroid autoimmune disease, I understand what you are going through. I’ve had experienced digestive issues of IBS and SIBO and have had fatigue, pain, weight and mood issues. But I’ve used nutritional and lifestyle modifications to help both myself and clients. I’ve been in the medical field for over 30 years and have been helping clients with holistic wellness for over 18 years. I loves helping people take small steps towards better overall health – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Contact me here to set up a free strategy session to see how we can work together. — Leah Cheshire, NBC-HWC
