{"id":3307,"date":"2018-01-22T02:44:34","date_gmt":"2018-01-22T09:44:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thebellyfitclub.com\/wordpress\/?p=3307"},"modified":"2018-01-19T09:33:03","modified_gmt":"2018-01-19T16:33:03","slug":"fit-to-travel-bellyfit-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebellyfitclub.com\/wordpress\/fit-to-travel-bellyfit-style\/","title":{"rendered":"Fit to Travel BellyFIT Style!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ryan and I travel A LOT!  We travel mostly for work yet we also love to vacation.  So how do we stay Fit and travel?<\/p>\n

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We understand that trying to eat healthy while traveling is one of life\u2019s greatest challenges and so we thought you’d appreciate what we are about to share here. <\/p>\n

We’ll be the first come out and say traveling totally sucks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I mean, let\u2019s get real here. Dealing with flight changes, disgruntled passengers, lost luggage, time changes, and being away from the conveniences of home isn\u2019t<\/em> exciting.<\/p>\n

What is, however \u2013 is the experience of being there<\/em>. Because of this, we\u2019re all willing to make sacrifices to either keep our job, visit family, or take a vacation. And a lot of the time, those sacrifices include eating foods that are less than ideal.<\/p>\n

Although your eating won\u2019t be perfect, there are a number strategies to help you eat healthy while traveling in order to reduce the already existing stress on your body.<\/p>\n

Because \u201ctravel\u201d looks different depending on the destination, you can adapt the strategies below to your situation \u2013 whether that includes flying, car trips, bus rides\u2026 or all three. (And if that\u2019s the case\u2026 bless your heart.)<\/em><\/p>\n

How to Eat Healthy While Traveling: Before You Go<\/h2>\n

PREPARE! I can’t stress this enough. Here is a list of things Ryan and I eat on the road and\/or on the plane. <\/p>\n

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The List (shown above):<\/p>\n

Boiled Eggs<\/p>\n

Sea Salt<\/p>\n

Fresh fruit<\/p>\n

Power Wraps<\/p>\n

Lara Bars<\/p>\n

Water<\/p>\n

Suja’s <\/p>\n

Additional items:<\/p>\n

Pre-made Smoothie from home<\/p>\n

Grilled Chicken Breast<\/p>\n

Mashed Sweet Potatoes<\/p>\n

A Pre-Made Salad with a Lemon for the dressing<\/p>\n

Baby Carrots and Raw Goat Cheese <\/p>\n

Avocados<\/p>\n

The water and Suja’s are great to take with you on the road. Yet won’t pass security if you’re going airborne. <\/p>\n

A great idea to get a green smoothie or freshly made juice to pass through security is to FREEZE it. Of course you won’t be able to dive into it as soon as you like yet you can use this to keep perishable foods fresh and in a few hours enjoy an ice cold beverage.  <\/p>\n

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The last thing I want to do is DISHES when I travel so if your going to pack a smoothie or a juice from home or the hotel, pack them in a recycled water bottle. You can rinse them out and toss in the nearest recycle bin at the next stop. <\/p>\n

The Hotel<\/h3>\n

Always prioritize staying at hotels that offer a mini-fridge<\/strong> in the room. Not only will you be able to house health-promoting foods in your room for easy access, but you\u2019ll also save big money by bringing your own breakfast, lunch and\/or snack foods which can add up quickly while traveling. <\/p>\n

Also, if you\u2019re looking at a few different hotels, search each of them in google maps prior to booking to see how close they are to surrounding grocery stores and markets.<\/strong> The closer they are, the easier it is to make a stop or two throughout your trip.
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Although typically not the best quality food, it\u2019s good to check out hotel breakfast options<\/strong> ahead of time to see what foods might be available to you. Stocking up on hard-boiled eggs or fruit from the breakfast buffet can serve as breakfast or snacks during your trip.<\/p>\n

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Last, pack a blender for those long trips.  I promise the extra effort will be worth it. Buying freshly made smoothies and\/or juices at a juice bar add’s up quickly.  You can pay up to $10.00 for a 16 ounce juice vs $3.00 for one you can make yourself in your hotel room.  CHEERS! <\/p>\n

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The Food<\/h3>\n

You can easily take a variety of perishable and nonperishable items with you depending on the length of your trip, and how much room you have to pack food.<\/p>\n

Perishable foods<\/h4>\n

For perishable foods, you can use a cooler<\/strong> or a cooler \u201cshoulder\u201d bag<\/strong> along with gel ice packs<\/strong> to keep foods cold during your travel time. When flying, if you\u2019re unsure if your ice source is security-friendly, take a large ziplock bag and get ice from a drink shop once you\u2019re in the terminal OR use a frozen pre-made juice from home. <\/p>\n

For flights that include long layovers or in-flight meal services, it\u2019s best to prepare a meal to-go before<\/strong> leaving the house. Dry foods are perfectly acceptable to take in carry-ons, so take as much as you need. Mr. Belliston and I typically pack a big salad OR our famous RAW SUNFLOWER SPREAD<\/a> with celery sticks or made into Sushi Rolls to eat on the plane during meal time. This means we\u2019re usually full and happy until we\u2019ve settled in at our destination.<\/p>\n

Non-perishable foods<\/h4>\n

Packaged foods or foods that don\u2019t need immediate refrigeration make great emergency meals and snacks, especially when spending time overseas or working long hours away from the hotel for work. You can pack large stashes of these foods in your suitcase, and take what you\u2019d like in your carry-on for immediate use. <\/p>\n

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Options for travel-friendly \u201cno fridge\u201d necessary foods:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Raw nuts and seeds<\/li>\n
  • Avocados<\/li>\n
  • Veggies<\/li>\n
  • Raw Power Wraps<\/li>\n
  • Dried Organic Un-sulphered Fruit<\/li>\n
  • Fruits like apples, bananas, and \u201ccuties\u201d<\/li>\n
  • Pink Himalayan Sea Salt (I always have this with me)<\/li>\n
  • Dark Chocolate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Enjoying new foods to the fullest in unfamiliar locations can be a simple as throwing a few things in your bag or purse on the way out to eat.<\/p>\n

    The Accessories <\/h3>\n

    A few travel-friendly accessories<\/strong> like reusable forks, plates, a small sharp knife, and cloth napkins will help as you prepare and eat your food throughout your stay. You can also take a travel bottles of Dr. Bronner\u2019s Liquid Castile Soap to rinse your utensils and containers in the sink after using them. <\/p>\n

    I also highly recommend taking your own reusable (non plastic) water bottle and coffee mug to use throughout your trip. This will eliminate the cost and waste of endless amounts of plastic water bottles and cups that can add up while traveling. If flying, you will need to empty your water bottle before going through security.<\/p>\n

    Don\u2019t be shy about taking any other small conveniences that make you feel comfortable and happy. This includes supplements you might be taking like magnesium or probiotics, or bags of your favorite tea you like to drink in the morning. Especially when traveling frequently for work, keeping a semi-normal routine is crucial to overall health and longevity.<\/p>\n

    How to Eat Healthy While Traveling: The Arrival <\/h2>\n

    Whether traveling in your own car or by taxi, plan to stop at the grocery store<\/strong> just before reaching your hotel or at some point shortly after you arrive to get items you weren\u2019t able to bring. This is also the time to pick up large bottles of purified water that will last you throughout your trip. <\/p>\n

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    If the mini-fridge is more \u201cmini\u201d than expected, you can use your cooler or cooler bag<\/strong> and refresh it with hotel ice every 6-10 hours as you eat the food and free up room in the fridge. Make sure to turn the fridge to the coolest setting if you are packing it full with food as most hotels will have it set to the lowest setting when you arrive.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Throughout your stay, you can use the airtight containers you brought to pack fresh food<\/strong> to take with you out each day. If you\u2019ll be gone from the hotel all day (which most of us are) for work or to explore, you can take these containers in a shoulder bag like a purse or backpack along with your reusable water bottles, coffee container and utensils.<\/p>\n

    Restaurants<\/h3>\n

    Whether traveling for vacation or work, experiencing new, local cuisine can be the highlight of any trip. Luckily, you can enjoy the food at a majority of the restaurants you\u2019ll visit by follow a few key \u201ctricks\u201d of the trade:<\/p>\n

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    • BEWARE THE BREAD BASKET! I LOVE BREAD and I WILL EAT IT if it’s in front of me.  Remove any temptation (this includes chips too) ASAP! Focus on the conversation, and order a glass of red wine or tea to keep your hands and mouth busy.<\/li>\n
    • When you arrive at a restaurant, tell the waiter you are gluten-free (or dairy-free) and would appreciate their help in making substitutions. Most of the time, they\u2019ll make immediate recommendations and let the chef know your sensitivity.<\/li>\n
    • When ordering salads, simply ask to sub the dressing for a side of olive oil (if you didn\u2019t bring your own!) Ask them to hold any croutons or cheeses if you\u2019re choosing to avoid gluten and processed dairy.<\/li>\n
    • You can order any burger dish by simply asking them to hold the bun, and leave any sauces on the side. If you\u2019d like to avoid the items fried in vegetable oils, sub out the fries for other sides they offer like grilled vegetables or rice.<\/li>\n
    • You can order any entr\u00e9e dish that includes meats like steak, fish, or chicken by simply asking for \u201cdouble the veggies\u201d as your side instead of any gluten or processed dairy items.<\/li>\n
    • If you\u2019re trying to avoid vegetable oils, ask if there is an option to have your meat or vegetables cooked in butter instead of the typical canola oil or no butter or oil. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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       <\/p>\n

      Don\u2019t worry. Be happy.<\/h3>\n

      While all of these tips can help you eat healthy food while traveling, the most important thing you can do throughout your trip is to not stress<\/em> about food imperfection. In fact, one of the number one causes of digestive distress is stress<\/strong>. This means, you could be eating the most nutrient-dense, pristine diet there is \u2013 but if you\u2019re stressed, you\u2019re not only impairing the breakdown and absorption of your food, you\u2019re also suppressing your immune system and increasing your likelihood of experiencing a reaction to a gut pathogen or food toxin. <\/p>\n

      This is especially challenging for us \u201ctype As\u201d as perfectionism and the all or nothing mentality typically reigns supreme. In the end, however, that mentality will only do more harm than good.<\/p>\n

      In short, enjoy yourself<\/strong> and the opportunity you\u2019ve been given to have a job \u2013 or travel and be on vacation. If that means removing all gluten exposures, then by all means, make that happen. Yet, don\u2019t let a little canola oil or non-organic produce rob you of enjoying life experiences. <\/p>\n

      Got questions about how to eat healthy while traveling? Or \u2013 have some other insights? Share your experiences below!<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Keepin\u2019 it real,<\/p>\n

      ~Ryan and Kristie “BELLY” FIT<\/p>\n

      \"First
      First time riding to White Pine Lake from Tony Groove. What a beautiful day!!! It’s amazing how a few hours (okay, 6 hours) can renew your spirit…and relationship. Thank you @bellyfitman for an awesome day!!! \u2764\ufe0f #tonygroove #cachevalleyutah #mountainbiking #fun #love #nature #selfie #husband #sexy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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