Eating Clean While Traveling
Clean Tips for Travel!
Summer is officially in full swing! Though things look quite different this year, I hope you’re finding ways to spend time with family and take a relaxing vacation or staycation somewhere in the world. I’m so grateful that my husband and I were able to travel safely back to the East Coast for 3 weeks in Cape Cod, MA with family. I didn’t realize how badly I needed to get out of the city and enjoy nature!
As much as I love my family, and getting away, I know it can be a challenge to stick to clean and healthy habits when you’re staying with others who may not be as open to your ideas, or who might even judge your decisions. I have been there! I feel like every time I see our family, I’m on a slightly different protocol or eating a different way as I tackle various gut issues (first Candida, no SIBO, while also trying to balance my hormones and heal from Adrenal Fatigue). In many ways, I’m liking projecting my own fear when I feel judgement from others, but either way, it is definitely a challenge! So here are some of my go to tips when traveling or visiting others!
#1 - Be open with your family or travel partners about the way your eating. This may feel uncomfortable, but remember WHY you’re eating this way and what it’s doing for your health. Be confident in your decision and let your family/friends know what you need.
#2 - Stick to your supplement routine! I pack all my supplements with me wherever I travel. I even put my collagen powder in a Ziptuck bag from Full Circle to bring with me. I can only imagine what TSA will think the day they pull that out of my bag! :) Supplements can be so beneficial in supporting your gut and overall health, especially when traveling.
#3 - Bring your own snacks! I always travel with snacks I know I can eat. Not only is this helpful for traveling since airport food is either yucky or over priced, but it also helps to keep snacks with me throughout my travel or stay with family so I know I have go-to foods I can eat!
#4 - Plan meals ahead and help create the meal plan! Do you tend to eat out at restaurants when you travel or are visiting family? I know things are different right now, but most often when I’m visiting family, we go out to eat as it’s a special occasion. In this case, I do my best to research restaurants in the area first and find ones that can accommodate any specific dietary needs I have. Then I suggest a list of restaurants that I know I can eat it! This works in my favor and also takes the planning off someone else’s shoulders which is usually welcome. Not one to go out much? Help prepare meals at home! Offer recipe options that you know you can eat. I again find this to be a welcomed gesture from others who don’t want to plan!
#5 - And probably my biggest tip. Follow the 80/20 rule! If you try to stick to a regimen or protocol 100% you will likely only stress yourself out more, frustrate the people around you, and be more likely to quit all together. Not to mention, stress wreaks havoc on your gut an immune system. Allow yourself some grace, you are on vacation after all! For me, this looked like enjoying wine almost every night (okay maybe I went overboard on indulging, haha), eating a high FODMAP food 2 or 3 times, and enjoying ice cream twice. And, I survived!
Do you have any other travel tips I missed?!
Live. Life. Clean.
Xo
Erica