Preparing For Success While Traveling

It is hard enough to eat well on a day-to-day basis when you are in the comfort of your own home, or in your normal work routine, much less when you are traveling. We have all come to accept a very fast paced and stressful lifestyle that is not conducive to healthy eating and proper nutrition. I understand that eating well takes some effort, but I want you to stop making excuses and make a small effort to prepare yourself to succeed. I want to share with you some very basic tips that can help you when you are traveling.

I have found that most people have food intentions to eat better, but they will only eat better if they have convenient access to the proper food. However, most people don’t know where to begin and they set themselves up for failure by not preparing the right foods or bringing meals with them. It is extremely difficult to eat well on the road and in airports when your only option is fast food. There are obviously some choices that are better than others, but even ‘healthy’ fast food is processed, full of chemicals, contains unhealthy grains and starches, and is full of additional ingredients that can be harmful to your body.

All you need to do is set aside two hours the day before you travel to prepare some very easy snacks that can last for several days. This short amount of time will prepare you for success and give you direct access to the best possible foods under the circumstances that travel can present. Here are five simple snacks that will help give you the best chance to succeed while traveling:

1. Raw Nuts- Raw nuts are extremely easy to transport and eat in any environment. They are a great source of good fats and they can curb your appetite in between meals. Try to get organic raw nuts that have not been salted or roasted. Mixed nuts will give you a nice variety, but almonds and walnuts are two great choices of individual nuts that you can snack on.

2. Protein Supplements- There are very few protein bars or pre-mixed drinks that are truly good for you. The majority of them contain hidden saturated fats, sugars, and chemicals. Please see the recipes on my blog for Homemade Protein Bars and several different protein drinks that you can prepare easily in your own home. Protein supplements can never replace real food, but they are always better than no food or the wrong food.

3. Tuna Cup- This is a great meal that is portable and you can easily eat on the go. It must be kept in a cooler, but it is filling and has a great macronutrient blend of protein, fats, and carbohydrates.

4. Hard Boiled Eggs- Hard boiled eggs are extremely easy to make and transport. Eggs are a great source of protein and fat. Do not be scared of the fat in the yokes. Most people need more fat in their diet for optimal energy, performance, and health. Remember, eating fat does not make you fat!

5. Fruit- Fruit is always a great snack to carry with you when you are on the go. Three of my favorite lower glycemic choices are blueberries, apples, and pears. I have several recipes on my blog for you to review. Mixing blueberries and raw mixed nuts is a great snack and so is adding natural peanut butter to an apple. It is best to add protein and fat to fruit to lessen unwanted spikes in your blood sugar.

Please consider taking the time to prepare for success when you travel. It is so easy to make excuses and get caught up eating terrible airport food because you think there is no other option. So many people get sick when they fly and they blame the air quality inside the airplane. This may be a contributing factor, but a terrible diet and less sleep are just as guilty for causing you to get sick during or after you travel. Try implementing these five snacks into your travel plans. I am confident that you will be surprised at how easy it really is, and the way you feel will greatly outweigh the short amount of time you must invest.

Here we are Preparing for Success!