Consuming healthy while traveling is really a priority so when I leave town, food comes with me. Though my husband is always amazed at just how much food I can pack into one suitcase, it really is really not as tricky as it seems. Get extra facts about
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Here's a list of my food staples that are nutritious and travel effectively...
Cacao Powder: I use this raw, unsweetened "super-food" (i.e. packed with nutrients and antioxidants) to wake up inside the morning rather than pounding coffee. I mix one tablespoon into a cup of hot water, add stevia and either some milk or cream, and it is like a power-packed cup of hot chocolate, sans the chemicals, caffeine, and sugar.
Sardines: Yes, genuinely, I believe most people get sardines confused with anchovies, the tiny, flat, really fishy fish that come on pizzas and in Caesar dressing. Sardines are really less fishy than tuna and bursting with healthy oils and protein. You will get them affordable (I not too long ago found a cool "10 for $10" deal). In Costa Rica, I discovered that a can of sardines, paired with a significant tomato in the local mercado, and drizzled with olive oil, tends to make for a great breakfast.
Kale chips: Now that kale has gone mainstream, it is possible to find it everywhere. Kale chips have turn out to be a current (and favorite) addition to my suitcase for the reason that (1) they do not call for refrigeration and (2) they assist to ensure I get my daily servings of vegetables.
Vegetable juice: Despite the fact that not my personal fave, vegetable juice also provides the much-needed daily servings of vegetables, is low-calorie and considerably cheaper than kale chips.
Sugar-free dried meat sticks. I like these simply because they travel effectively in purses, beach bags, and glove compartments and don't require refrigeration. They are also good in between meals to help keep blood sugar steady. I've attempted several brands but my rule of thumb will be to read the labels very carefully: Dried meats are notorious for getting packed with sugar, so always, always, constantly ensure to pick only the ones with out sugar.
Dried edamame: These crunchy nuts are packed with protein and make an awesome pre-workout snack.
Almonds & sunflower seeds: Nuts and seeds are a traveling must for me. I'll measure out one- or two-ounce servings, place them into snack-sized baggies, and keep them handy in my purse in case dinner or lunch is delayed (also terrific snacks for beach days).
Stevia: If they stopped making stevia, I would seriously have to reconsider whether I could go on with life. Despite the fact that some people discover this sweet herb has an unpleasant aftertaste, to me it is pure heaven. I put it in my morning cacao powder, add it to club soda lime to make a refreshing soda-like beverage, mix it with lemon water for a healthy lemonade... I could go on but I assume you get it. Fortunately, stevia is everywhere these days so you will get it in powder, tablet, packet, or liquid form and use it as opposed to the harmful artificial sweeteners and sugar provided by most restaurants.
Whole grains. It can be very tough to come across whole grains (or even ones that aren't filled with sugar such as the standard continental breakfast oatmeal). I travel with packets of instant oatmeal, whole grain crackers, and rice cakes to be sure I'm not eating refined carbs and causing unpleasant blood sugar spikes and cravings.
Beverages: Go down any supermarket aisle and you may find a multitude of options to add a little sum-sum to your water - everything from green tea packets, to electrolyte powders, to fruit flavor drops. I'm personally not a big fan of chemical substances but a lot of these options are considerably better for you than soda. And besides, you're on getaway... why not live a little?
So you're probably thinking...
Are you crazy? I'm not packing all that stuff!
Well, you never have to. Even I do not pack all this stuff all the time. For a current trip to Costa Rica, for example, I packed everything since I wasn't positive what would be available. For weekend getaways, I tend to just pack my breakfast and snack foods. It's your trip - make it work for you and retain it healthy!
