Hello from San Diego! Last week we talked about how to exercise when you are away from home, and today I wanted to chat about food for when you travel. Because when it comes to food, I don’t mess around.
When you travel, especially for work, you may not get to control what you eat. Case in point, last week I had white bread deli sandwiches for lunch two days in a row, where I normally try to avoid white bread. While it’s not a big deal to stray outside your normal food routines every once in awhile, eating foods you’re not used to can have an impact on both your waistline and your energy levels. And as anyone sitting through a 9-hour workday can tell you, having energy is key.
My solution for this trip, which is even longer than the last one, is to bring healthy snacks with me. If my work day brings me healthy lunch and dinner options, great! If not, having these snacks ensures I can still eat well and keep my body happy.
Here’s what I brought with me for a three day trip.
1. Gluten-free Rice Crackers Because sometimes a girl needs something crunchy! These are much healthier than processed chips, but I still eat these sparingly, since too much sodium can upset my body.
2. Lemons I drink hot water with lemon every morning, and I try to maintain this healthy habit even when I travel. It starts my day out right and keeps my body feeling regulated. When I travel, I pre-slice my lemons in case I don’t have access to a knife.
3. Tea My favorite caffeinated tea is Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Sunset. It’s sweet and spicy on its own, so there’s no need to add any sugar. I stick with a decaf cinnamon-flavored tea for an afternoon flavor pick-up.
4. Mac and Cheese There’s nothing especially elegant about it, but Annie’s Microwaveable White Cheddar Mac and Cheese is a great alternative to yet another white bread sandwich, especially when paired with some wholesome fruits.
5. Apple and Almond Butter I’ve been on an apple and almond butter kick lately, having this for my breakfast almost every day. Together or alone, these make good snacks. I like Justin’s Almond Butter and snack-sized Gala apples.
6. Kind Bars Kind bars are great for on the road – both low sugar and filled with plant-based protein. They are slim enough to take up minimal room in my laptop case, so I can sneak these out during meetings.
7. Paleo Pumpkin Muffins These paleo pumpkin muffins are super delicious, and are packed with protein. They make a great alternative to the hotel’s cereal buffet! Also, I miiiight have put chocolate chips in this batch. Because, chocolate for breakfast. Enough said.
8. Grapes and Bananas Both of these travel well (I keep my grapes in snack containers to keep them from squishing) and help you get some much-needed nutrients.
These are all carry-on friendly, but if you check your luggage you will have some more options. I usually try to grab a green juice once I pass through airport security, and peanut butter sandwiches and nuts are other regular snacks of mine. What are some of your favorite travel snacks? I would love to know!
xo Tanya
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