Travel Food Choices

Traveling as a part of the work schedule can have many ramifications concerning eating healthy.  Most business travelers complain of weight gain as a side effect of their job description.  Others contend that they have developed digestive issues among other health related matters because they simply cannot eat healthy on the road.

Most reasons for the lack of healthy food choices while traveling are merely due to lack of knowing what options an individual may have that they may not have considered before.  The following will explain some tips on healthy travel food choices that may relieve the difficulties of eating on the road.

First, if one is a frequent flyer versus someone who drives, eating healthy food may be a bit trickier depending on the length of travel. Healthy food suggestions for all forms of travel would be to bring dry goods with you such as nuts, seeds, sulfite free dried fruits, baby cans of chicken,  turkey, rice crackers, and nutrient dense snack bars. Ideas to look for regarding healthy food bars are those that do not contain hydrogenated oils, casein, sugar, hydrolyzed proteins, or mono & di-glycerides.

Healthy organic fruit and nut bars are a safer choice and can be found in health food stores and in some regular grocery chain stores in the nutrition isle, and can be purchased before travel Fruit is also easy to carry for travel and comes wrapped in its own packaging.  A person should consume a combination of a bar or nuts and a piece of  fruit every three hours, especially during travel. This will help stabilize blood sugar and prevent excessive eating at the next meal.

Three healthy food meals can fit into a purse or brief case and can cover someone during travel for up to nine hours before other food sources become present. Water may be problematic with air travel,  but one can buy bottled water in the airport to bring aboard the plane.

Second, the car trekkers have the more opportune task of packing their meals in a cooler. This requires preparation the eve before the journey and can include similar suggestions mentioned or one can bring healthy travel food that can be kept on ice.

Additional options for car travel include turkey sandwiches on flourless bread, low salt turkey or chicken meat, and prepackaged one-ounce mozzarella cheeses. Also vegetables such as jicama, bell peppers, celery, carrots, cherry tomatoes are great. Starches like gluten free crackers, cooked sweet potatoes, or yams are healthy as well. Just about anything one can think of to take along will work in addition to clean drinking water.

It is also clear that restaurant eating can be a challenge depending on where someone is dining. Today most restaurants and dining places will accomodate most special orders.  Foods to order at a restaurant include grilled chicken or fish with no added fat or oils, steamed or grilled vegetables, rice pilaf, baked potatoes, and salad with light dressing or olive oil on the side. Travel food choices may pose a problem but understanding one's options while traveling can remedy the conditions.

Deana Sicari BS CCN

Clinical Nutritionist & Functional Athletic Trainer

C/O The "Nutri-Fit"

www.thenutri-fit.com

760-940-4148

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