Nothing seems more painstakingly difficult than eating nutritiously when traveling. There seems to be a limited access to foods that are nutritiously serving yet vast quantities of unhealthy, low nutrient dense option are in abundance and right at our fingertips at every turn. But, with a little preparation and ingenuity it can become simple to stay on track with eating healthy on the go.
1. Prepare in advance
Most of the trouble comes from waiting until you’re in the middle of an emergency hunger situation before taking action.
If you’re on the road all day and you don’t have any healthy options with you, when you come face to face with that convenient snack machine, you won’t be able to resist.
Pack some foods that travel well in a small cooler or other container and keep them with you. This leads us right into step two….
2. Find healthy food that travels well
There are tons of options that carry along easily.
Here are some suggestions:
- string cheese
- tuna Pouches
- salmon pouches
- yogurt
- nuts
- hard boiled eggs
- celery
- peppers
- carrots
- apples
Just think of any food that is relatively portable, can survive for several hours without refrigeration, doesn’t make a sloppy mess when you eat it and can fit in a small container.
Example: Throw some berries into a Tupperware with some cottage cheese and nuts and take it in the car with you.
3. Look for the healthy stuff
It’s hard to come by, but buried among the junk foods in some airports and gas stations are decent, nutritious snacks like; apples, nuts, seeds, even dried fruit can be an option on the road. Look for these and stay away from quick fix unhealthy options like chips or candy bars.
4. Make a list
Until you get good at this, don’t try to think on your feet when you’re in the moment. Make a list in advance of possible foods and snacks that might be available while you’re traveling. You can also make a list of foods you can easily take with you before you shop for them.
5. Vegetable juice can be a lifesaver
When all else fails, have a V-8. Fresh vegetable juice is always better, but in a pinch there’s always canned tomato juice and V-8.
It takes the edge off your appetite and quenches cravings like nothing else around, and you can get it pretty much anywhere.
There you have it…
Apply some of your own ideas to the ones I’ve outlined and remember to always try to plan ahead.
