4 Tips for Eating Real Food While Traveling

This weekend I am traveling. I have been blessed with the opportunity to attend the 2:1 conference as part of my work with A Moment With Mom. This is the first time being away from my family for an extended period of time. Since their birth I have not been away from the twins for more than 36 hours at a time as I travelled back and forth between the NICU and home. My youngest son has never been away from his momma. Your prayers are greatly appreciated this weekend.

Traveling an sticking to a real food lifestyle has been challenging and eye opening. God has been good in sustaining me through the times when real food and drink were of available. I've gleaned a few tips during this trip that will hopefully make your next flight more enjoyable and save you the pain of dehydration or hunger.

1. Pack your own snacks. Fortunately current flight regulations do not prohibit you from taking your own food aboard your flight. Plan ahead and carefully consider snacks that will travel well and not easily perish. After a flight cancellation and an unexpected 3 hour drive to make a connecting flight I am thankful I grab a large bag of homemade trail mix a few minutes before heading out the door. Raw pumpkin seeds, raw almonds, raw cashews, and organic "Cherrios" helped to stave off hunger and keep me awake on my long drive. 

2. Plan to drink only water. This is one area you will not be able to bring your own from home. As many of you already know juices and sodas are full of unwanted and unnecessary preservatives, chemicals, and colorings. A word of caution, read the water bottle labels before you purchase. Sadly even a simple bottle of water can have added sodium and other undesirables. Fresh spring water is your best bet and stay away from the water bottle brands that are made by corporations, these are typically the glorified water bottles, nothing more than dressed up tap water.

3. If you are staying at a hotel call ahead. Nowadays, hotel kitchens are more than happy to accommodate guests with special dietary needs. Eating real food, although counterintuitive is classified as a special dietary condition. Perhaps one day it will not be, but until then, call ahead. Be prepared to provide the kitchen staff with meal ideas, especially if it is a smaller hotel.

4. Eating out can be a real challenge when sticking to a real food lifestyle. Choose your restaurants carefully and considering asking locals or hotel staff for recommendations. After you choose a spot to eat and are ordering, don't be afraid to make your food needs known. Most often the chef and wait staff are more than happy t accommodate your needs, after all they are no different that someone with a food allergy. There are certain things we will and will not eat, just like others with special dietary needs.

With some forethought traveling and continuing to eat real food is not only possible it will also be enjoyable.

Do you have other tips and tricks for eating real while traveling? Please share, I'd love to hear your feedback