Can you eat Paleo while traveling?

 

Ok, so this was my first attempt to travel while sticking to a strict diet. It was not easy, but I tried to make it easier for myself by bringing plenty of food and water with me to avoid eating the heads off of any flight attendants or other travelers.

Before catching the plane, I gave myself some time to head to the grocery store. I bought two bananas, two apples, two oranges, one cucumber, a bag of mixed nuts, 200 grams of smoked turkey, a 70% cocoa chocolate bar and some cheese. Now, I know that cheese and chocolate aren’t technically part of the caveman diet, but I figured with the amount of traveling I was going to do, I’d rather have something of good quality to cure my cravings than have to resort to eating McShatmypants.

I love buying cucumbers to bring me with because they’re refreshing, they taste great on their own, and you can easily break off a piece and enjoy it anywhere. It also packs well, goes with most food and is a cooling or alkaline food. Alkaline foods are good for our system because we tend to be too acidic which can cause a number of health issues. This will be explained further in another post, but feel free to check out this site: http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/heaty.html

In addition to having a backpack full of snacks, I always make sure that I have a bottle of water with me. Hydration, especially when traveling is always very important! Did you hear that? VERY IMPORTANT! It helps with jetlag, nausea, dry skin, brain power, and much, much more. When the flight attendant comes around with beverages, don’t be a dumbass and get a coke, do yourself a favour and get WATER! Worst case scenario, I allow myself a couple exceptions if morale is low. If I haven’t had the opportunity to eat very much fruit and veggies for some reason, I’ll get a tomato juice. If I’m freezing cold because the plane is too cheap to give me a free blanket, I’ll have some green tea (no milk or sugar), and if I’m craving the awesome cold carbonation feeling in my belly, then I’ll have some soda water with some lime.

If you didn’t get around to going to the grocery store before heading to the airport, there are a few paleo items you can purchase at the airport. Now in all honesty, it is nearly impossible to follow a true paleo diet when trying to survive the no-mans-land that airports can be, but this is what I was able to find:

• Beef Jerky
• Fruit
• Nuts
• Salads with meat

Keep in mind that some, if not all of these foods will be somewhat processed to a certain point. If you’re like me, you’re going to be on a tight budget so instead of buying 15 bags of almonds, you’ll just spend $10 and get trail mix. Yes I know that peanuts and M&M’s are not paleo, but throw me a bone here. In my opinion, as long as I stay away from grains, processed foods like chips and candy, and sugary beverages I’m happy. I’m ok falling a little off course to avoid falling off the wagon completely. I’m bending the rules to satisfy my needs, stay nourished and be happy. This is your life, your body and your diet, it doesn’t matter what you write down in your food journal because your body will register everything even if you don’t. If you end up eating something shitty because you felt like you had to, feel shitty about it for a little bit, register how it made your body feel… then move on. Make your next food decision be one that you’re proud of.

At the end of this week I will be taking a train from Montreal to New York. I’ll do my best to hit up the grocery store before I go and check out what’s available at the train station.

Til’ next time amigos!