Staying Paleo On The Road
The other day, I wrote a post about how travel helps your health.
However the connection between travel and health is more complex than I let on. That’s because a great trip is an unpredictable trip. it can be hard to anticipate where you’ll be, when you’ll be eating, and how to prepare.
Beyond that, you might not want to prepare. You might feel intense anxiety every time you need to suggest an alternative restaurant… or store food you prepped… or pick around your food.
As someone who hates to be high-maintenance, I get it. Nobody likes being the problem child.
All things considered, there can be many obstacles to staying healthy while travelling. These obstacles can vary by country. They can vary based on who you are and who you’re with. Here are four consistent pain points I encounter:
- You want to enjoy the local food. I just spent 6 weeks in Mexico. Wherever I walked, I found carts with sunburst-orange mangoes, a variety of sizzling meats, and churros like you wouldn’t believe. Every walk around the city was a tortuous test of self-control.
- You want a goddamn drink. It’s fun to try local beers. Moreover after layovers, customs, and immigration, most of us need a beer. Even if you rarely drink, travelling feels like the perfect time to let loose.. at least a little bit.
- You don’t want to be rude or picky. If you’re staying with family, friends, or an unfamiliar culture, you want to go with the flow. I don’t know anybody who enjoys being difficult. So, it can be overwhelming to ask questions about preparation or make special requests.
- You literally can’t find anything healthy to eat. Sometimes, looking for healthy food is like a wild goose chase. Most snacks on the go are sweet and heavily processed. On the other hand, if you’re lucky enough to find a healthy snack, it’s often overpriced. Do you really have to bite the bullet?
That said, I’ve found there are ways around these problems. With some trial and a whole lot of error, I developed a few strategies. Here they are:
- Enjoy the local food (just modify it a bit). Usually, you can mess around with food to make it fit your needs. Want a taco without the tortilla? Don’t eat the tortilla! Want a burger without the bun? Simply slip the bun down as you eat, like peeling a banana. When I was in Mexico, it would have been impossible to resist the sights and smells. In fact it would have been sinful. So don’t avoid local food entirely when you can tweak it to line up with your nutritional goals.
- Then have a drink. One or two drinks won’t sabotage your regiment. Just know what kind of drinker you are. If a few drinks really lowers your inhibitions and will cause you to slip up in other areas, it might not be a great idea. Here are a few low glycemic index drinks to help you on your quest.
- You’re probably not that rude or picky. If you’re an American in a foreign country, there have likely been tourists more obnoxious than you. I promise. Besides, lots of people have dietary quirks. Some people don’t like foods based on flavor, texture, or they just have small appetites. As long as you’re not vocal or obvious about your gripe with food, it’s likely folks won’t even notice.
- Bring some things to eat in advance. They can replace what you eat, or complement it so you’re minimizing the unhealthy food you eat. For meal replacement, I’d recommend Quest bars or Exo bars. For snacks, packs of peanuts, almonds, and other nuts work great. And if you’re feeling really adventurous opt for a healthy (but smelly) choice. Tim Ferriss’ favorite Canned sardines and oysters.
- *BONUS* Ditch your stupid diet. Honestly, I feel your pain. Sometimes I try to maintain a routine while travelling, other times I ditch it entirely. Is staying healthy making you miserable? If your trip is short, loosen up. Enjoy yourself. In my view, chronic anxiety can be just as unhealthy as a crappy meal. Another option: take one ‘cheat day’ to eat whatever you want. It can be a great way to quell your appetite and stick to a routine for the rest of the trip. Trust me, you’ll remember that delicious taco more fondly than protein bar #12 =).
