Do you have a hard time making healthy food choices while on business trips? Have you just resigned yourself to the idea that eating well while traveling is impossible so, why bother?
Traveling AND eating well can feel like an impossible combination. Business meetings are often held at sub-par restaurants, workshops are stocked with sweet breakfast pastries, and a bag of fast food looks like the only option when you’re trying to catch your flight connection.
It can seem easier to just throw your hands up, grab that burger to go and think,“I’ll just get back on track when I get home”.
Here’s the problem with that approach. As with so many things that have to do with our health – it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. As a matter of fact, trying to do it all perfectly all the time just not possible. So, we have to find another way.
One of my favorite quotes is by President Harry Truman. He said,
“Imperfect action is better than inaction.”
I encourage you to take this approach when trying to make healthy eating choices on your next trip. When you’re traveling, you just don’t have access to the same things as you do when you’re at home but that doesn’t mean we have to give up. Instead, we can take some imperfect action towards taking care of ourselves – which is better than doing nothing!
Here my favorite tips for making better choices for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks while you’re traveling.
Breakfast
Get poached eggs instead of fried or scrambled.
Order whole or multigrain bread instead of white and ask for butter on the side.
Try avocado on your bread instead of butter. It’s contains healthy fat AND keeps you full longer.
Check out Better Oats brand oatmeal packets for quick on the go breakfast - at home and while you’re traveling.
Lunch and Dinner
Stick to protein and veggies. For example, grilled chicken or fish with broccoli and sweet potato.
Substitute any high carb foods like bread, white potatoes, and rice for a different vegetable such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, or zucchini
Get all butter, dressing, gravies, and dips on the side.
Control portion size by having the waiter pack up half your meal to-go before serving it.
Snacks
Stop at a grocery store instead of a gas station to stock up on healthy snacks.
Great snacks include peanut butter and fruit, hummus and veggies, as well as granola bars and raw nuts.
If you’re checking a bag, pack a small knife. That way you can cut up any veggies you pick up such as peppers and avocados. Even a sturdy plastic knife will work if you’re only bringing carry-on luggage.
For more snack ideas get your copy of my Smart Snacking Guide!
We want to hear from you! How do you do make healthy choices while traveling? Do you have favorite snacks that you pack for trips? Comment below!
