How To Plan For Success While Travleing

Summer time for many of us mean it’s finally time for V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!! And heck, you’ve earned it. But one frequent concern I hear from clients is that going on vacation throws their normally structured eating patterns out the window. Whether it’s the travel itself or the destination you head to, it can be difficult to stay on track. But I’ve got you! Here are my top 3 tips to enjoying your summer travel while still hitting your nutrition goals! 

1)  Focus on what you can ADD
Diet culture has socialized us to believe that health and weight management are all about restriction. They tell us to focus on what we need to take away from our diets to make them “healthy” (and have since spent the last 4 decades creating a moving target by changing what needs to be taken away seemingly every other week). Vacation should not be about restrictions. Instead focus on what you can add  to your diet to make it more balanced. For example, let’s say you have a 9 hour drive to the beach. Much of that drive flows through absolute nothingness with no options for food other than fast food. Great. Eat the fast food. Get the fries. But also pack things like fruit, nuts and maybe carrot sticks to ensure you’re getting all of your food groups, not just protein and starch. Which leads us to suggestion #2…

2) Pack snacks
Let’s face it, when we’re traveling, meals can be sparse or inconsistent. Whether you need them while you’re traveling or once you reach your destination, snacks are a great way to add nutrition to your day even if you are otherwise at the mercy of fast food or airport snack kiosks. Some of my favorites to pack along are: 
If you DON’T have access to refrigeration:
-Nuts and Ttrail mix
​-Nutrition Bars (Clif, RX, Powerbar, Luna, KIND)
-Granola/cereal bars
-Protein shakes (they actually don’t need to be kept cold)
-Fruits like apples, oranges, bananas, pears, (even grapes and cherries do well if not refrigerated)
-Peanut butter or cheese cracker sandwiches
-PB&J
-Jerky
If you DO have access to refrigeration (or an insulated cooler)
-Yogurt
-Veggies
-Cheese
-Lunch meat sandwiches
-Hardboiled eggs
-Hummus cups with pretzels
​
3) Make a small grocery run.
Most hotels either have in-room refrigeration or you can request one for your stay. If your destination does not have access to a refrigerator, consider buying or packing along a cooler (you can grab a cheap on at a local gas station or pack a folding one like this: https://www.amazon.com/XXL-Larger-Insulated-Reusable-Collapsible-Transport/dp/B087M6QG4Z/ref=asc_df_B087M6QG4Z/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459577001954&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1832574854309135539&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014315&hvtargid=pla-986144742685&psc=1. Having access to some semblance of refrigeration will give you flexibility in terms of snack and meal access. Again, focus less of what you need to cut out and more of what you need to add in. The list above is a great place to start as well as any quick breakfast or meal options such as oatmeal packets, granola, cereal, sandwich supplies, etc. If you do not have a vehicle, most hotels coordinate with local grocery delivery services to have groceries dropped off at the front desk for guests. Just ask when you check in! 
​
And there you have it. 3 easy steps to keep you on track and nourished no matter what your summer holds! Until next week!