• Mail

Vibrance Nutrition and Fitness

  • Programs
    • Programs and Services
    • Fitness
    • Individualized Coaching
    • Online Programs
    • Business Coaching
    • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Free!
    • Recipes
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Video
    • My Favorite Things
  • About
  • Contact

Blog - Latest News

You are here: Home » Food Sensitivities » Healthy Travels

Healthy Travels

June 5, 2008
June 5, 2008

healthy road tripI’ve spent a great deal of time in airports and other states and have become very familiar with finding food while traveling. Since my travels have mostly been via plane to metropolitan areas, it has been easy for me to pack what I need or find something reasonable in an airport.

Last month, a new challenge came my way — healthy eating while traveling via roadway, cross-country.

I took an 8-day trek with a friend, acting as co-pilot as he made his way to the east coast for new employment opportunities. The challenge of following a gluten, dairy, soy-free whole foods diet on the road were new to me, and definitely not without some slip-ups and hard lessons learned.

Here’s what I have discovered:

1) Wendy’s offers baked potatoes, and can be found along most major highways throughout the country. Pair it with a salad and you can have a reasonably healthy meal in what may seem a completely inhospitable area. A squeeze of fresh lemon can make a great dressing on any vegetable!
2) Sustaining oneself on nuts and trail mix does not lead to satisfaction (at least in my case). Portable sources of satisfying foods to have in the car: tuna or salmon in shelf-stable containment, organic soy or meat jerkies, whole grain crackers (Triscuits can be found anywhere, Mary’s Gone Crackers are gluten-free and at any Whole Foods), rice cakes and nut butters, and raw veggies with hummus can come in VERY handy when you are hungry and there is no decent food in sight.

3) Because I was traveling back west by plane, I did not have a cooler of goodies to take with me. If at all possible, bring a cooler for perishable items like hummus, fresh veggies, open containers of dairy-free milk (you can buy rice and soy milks in 8oz. lunchbox sizes – these are VERY handy when refrigeration is unreliable) and leftovers from restaurants. You can purchase ice daily or get it from hotels, or alternatively have a car-friendly portable cooler with you.

4) Expect slip-ups. When eating out, you cannot control what is happening in someone else’s kitchen. Sometimes, if ill-prepared, all that is offered you is something your body doesn’t favor. Or perhaps you make the epic mistake I did and wait too long, get too hungry, and maul the bread basket when it is placed in front of you. To combat mistakes, accidents, and lapses in judgment, bring along the digestive supplements your body needs to thrive. Depending on your individual condition, you may benefit from digestive enzymes, probiotics, fiber supplements, or hydrochloric acid. Having it on hand can ease the pain of most slip-ups. It took two days to get my system back on track after the breadbasket binge, and I know it would have been longer if I hadn’t been prepared for contamination.

5) Use your best judgment. My understanding has been that bread was one of the least dramatic sensitivities my body has, and soy is one of the highest. I know my body is sensitive to the protein in cow’s milk and cheese, and not as adverse to half and half, which is mostly fat. I know I can get away with some coffee, but not too much. Working with this knowledge, I had drip coffee with a little half and half and avoided soy/dairy lattes, did not punish my car companion by eating soy products, and learned (the hard way) that gluten has a much stronger impact on my body – especially if consumed repeatedly – than I had previously realized.

My next road trip is down the coast in July. I anticipate it will be a much smoother, easier process since I will have a cooler and it will be far less time on the road. I also have the benefit of roadside fruit vendors coming into season, especially as I head south. I’m excited to see how round two goes. If anything notable occurs, I’ll be certain to mention it here!

What is your experience during travel? How do you maintain a healthy diet or avoid foods you are allergic to when you are on the road? Your ideas are valuable gems that can help others; please let me know your healthy travel secrets!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Need quick and easy ways to get healthy meals on the table? Get my guide, "5 Ways to 5 a Day in 15 Minutes or Less" to boost your health without resorting to boring salads or smoothies!

Gimme the Guide!
johnsmith@example.com
John
Smith
0 Comments/in Food Sensitivities, Nutrition, Summer, Tips - Lifestyle/Wellness /by Aimee
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Followon Twitter

Recent Comments

  • recipeprepare on Fun Ways to Enjoy Leftover Easter Eggs
  • Gnar on Timeless Advice: Chew Your Food
  • Shane on Playground Workout
  • Enrique Pasion on Bee-ing Mindful of our Pollinators
  • Aimee Gallo, Vibrance Nutrition on Blasphemous Thoughts on Sports Nutrition

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
← Romio's Pizza — now catering to food intolerances! (previous entry)
(next entry) Recipe: Raw Almond Oatmeal →

Site Map

  • About
    • What is Functional Nutrition?
  • Blog
    • Take this Quiz: How Healthy Am I?
    • Tasty Sunshine Inspired Recipes!
  • Contact Us
    • Looking For an Inspiring Podcast Guest? Let’s Chat!
  • 30 Days to Glorious Greens Cookbook
  • 5 Ways To 5 a Day
  • A Few of My Favorite Things
  • About Us
  • Are You Getting Enough Vegetables?
  • Examine Your Poops: The Bristol Stool Chart
  • Fitness
  • Glorious Goodies for You!
  • Holistic Business Coaching
  • Individualized Coaching
  • Newsletter Archive
  • Online Programs
    • 10 Weeks to a Healthier You!
    • 30 Day of Glorious Greens Challenge
      • Thank You for Believing in Greens!
    • 30 Days to Conquer Cravings
    • I’m thrilled you are joining the Daily Greens Challenge!
    • The Lean Living Lifestyle Program
    • Vibrant Veggies: A New Program offered by VIBRANCE.
    • You’re In!
  • Programs and Services
    • Congratulations!
  • Reasons You Aren’t Losing Weight.
  • Recipes
  • Testimonials
  • Vibrance Nutrition and Fitness Privacy Policy
  • Video

search

blog by topic

A Vibrant Life

I've studied nutrition and fitness from a variety of experts for over 20 years. In this time I've come to understand that no diet, nor exercise plan, is right for every body. Your body has a unique set of needs, and by listening and exploring, you and I can learn the language of your body and begin giving it what it needs, so that greater energy, vibrancy, health and happiness can be yours!

A healthy body is a platform for an abundant, vibrant life. It's all yours for the taking. Are you ready for it?

-Aimee

contact

Aimee Gallo
Seattle: (206) 227-1231
aimee@vibrance.dev
© Copyright - Vibrance Nutrition and Fitness - Wordpress Premium Theme by Kriesi
 Tweet
 Share
 Tweet
 Share
 Tweet
 Share