Traveling with Food Restrictions

​ 
Are you getting ready to travel and panicking about how to stick to your eating plan? For people trying to eat healthy, time on the road or at the airport can cause anxiety. McDonald's, Cinnabon, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Starbucks and Auntie Anne's are everywhere, and often the only options. But caving in to a craving during a moment of hunger can lead to days of discomfort, which no one wants on a trip they are supposed to enjoy. Therefore, it is very important to prepare in advance and make sure that you have an adequate supply of snacks for your trip. Here are some ideas:
1.     Nuts. If you are allowed nuts, they are a great high-protein, high-fat snack to take on the go. 
2.     Protein bars: You will want to get high-quality bars, the less ingredients, the better.
3.     Simple Mills crackers: Dr. Sprecher loves Simple Mills, and with good reason. These crackers are very tasty, but low in carbs. Top ingredients in these crackers are nuts and seeds.
4.     Nut or seed butter packs: Nearly every kind of butter, such as sunflower seed, peanut or almond, comes in packets these days. Pack a few with you, and you will always have a filling, high-protein food option.
5.     Meat sticks: Get grass-fed meat, the less processed, the better.
6.     Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate is lower in sugar than most candies, and offers antioxidants.

1. Fruit and vegetables: This depends on your travel situation, but if you can, pack apples, bananas, carrots, celery, snap peas, or berries. These are sometimes available in airports or at rest stops.

When in doubt, look for a salad bar, or even a Starbucks that offers fruit and nut packs. Car travel allows you to bring more of your own food- if you bring a cooler and request a refrigerator at your hotel, you can get yourself very well set up. Air travel is more restrictive, especially now that TSA is inspecting food items individually. (That's right...you make the effort to eat healthy on the road, and TSA rewards you by pulling you aside and running the wand over every single food item you pack!) 
The bottom line is that the more you prepare, the easier it will be to eat healthy on your trip. While it is tempting to throw caution out the window ("Hey, we only do this once a year!") the ramifications may not be worth it.
On a side note....do not let your food-packing get too overwhelming. Last summer, I was so focused on packing food for my daughter and me that I forgot my wallet. I went to check in at the hotel and the driver's license, credit cards...all at home. And I forgot my pajamas and glasses. But we did have every meal and snack covered! 
If you need further assistance with eating on the road, contact me at kate@neoifm.com.