When traveling or being on the go, it can be challenging to stick with any type of diet or lifestyle. Many people who are dedicated to an organic diet often say that it’s tough to eat organic food while traveling, especially if you have direct access to farmer’s markets and organic stores at home. In addition, many of those who stick to an organic diet also take extra good care of their gut health. Using a ColonBroom is a great way to do so, as many organic eaters will tell you. (If you’d like to give it a try, here’s a ColonBroom coupon to get you started!
The organic diet offers a lot of benefits . If you eat organic food at home, your diet doesn’t have to get thrown out of the window. It’s possible to eat organic while on the go – you just need to plan and prepare beforehand. Here are some helpful tips for eating organic when on the go:
Prepare healthy snacks for your journey.
It’s always a good idea to bring healthy, organic snacks with you when you are traveling. That way, when you get hungry, you can reach for something that will suit your diet whenever you’re on a road trip, a tour, or an airplane. You can buy lots of organic, packed snacks that are an excellent alternative for the usual chips, crackers, granola bars, chocolate bars, and sweet treat options. But besides buying organic-labeled foods, you can always pack these snacks:
- Fruits and vegetables – These are your best options, like a healthy snack. You can pack organic, whole fruits like apples and oranges or dried fruits for longer-duration trips. Pre-cut carrots, celery sticks, and snap peas are great fiber-filled snacks to keep your digestive system healthy. For drivers, bring some chopped apples, melons, or some grapes and cherries and put them in a container so they can have something to eat on hand.
- Just-add-water foods – Organic instant oatmeal mixes and organic dry soup mixes can be handy. It takes up little room in travel bags; then, you can always add hot water to have a meal ready anywhere. Besides being convenient, just-add-water foods are also nutritious. They’re rich in fiber, protein, and antioxidants, which can keep you full and energized throughout your travels. Plus, they’re easy to customize and enjoy. Simply add your toppings and seasonings, such as fresh or dried fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, or spices. You can also mix and match various flavors and varieties to suit your dietary needs and taste buds.
- Popcorn – Organic popcorn is your healthy go-to-fix if you’re craving crunchy junk food items. Depending on your preference, you can choose the flavor of popcorn without guilt.
- Seeds – Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, and chia seeds are nutritious snack options that you can bring while traveling. But they need to be kept in an airtight container so they won’t go rancid. Seeds are a great source of plant-based protein, helping you feel full and satisfied. They’re also rich in healthy fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids, which support your brain, heart, and skin health.
- Nuts – Nuts are one of your best organic food snack options while traveling. Packed with protein, healthy fats, and minerals, it can keep you full for longer. Nuts are also easy to store and transport, as they don’t require refrigeration or special packaging. You can keep them in a sealed container or a ziplock bag and enjoy them anytime and anywhere.
- Homemade organic granola – If you’re making your own granola with rolled oats and dried fruit, you can carry some while on the go and also pack some non-perishable, tetra-pack enclosed soy or nut milk to pour it over granola. Preparing this will fuel your day with wholesome gluten free oats wherever your adventures take you!
- Roasted chickpeas – Prepare roasted chickpeas at home to make yummy munchies for the road. You can use canned or cooked chickpeas and season them with your favorite spices, such as salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, or garlic. You can add oil, vinegar, or honey for extra flavor and crispiness. Then, you can bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes or until golden and crunchy.
Prepare a meal when going on the plane.
Airport food has a bad rep. It’s often laden with preservatives, and it’s a hit and miss when it comes to taste. To make sure you can eat an organic meal, fix a snack pack and a meal before going to the airport. All the dried foods like organic granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, and dark chocolate are allowed. If you need a meal, you can also make a sandwich or a salad with dressing. Bring fruits like bananas, oranges, and apples, or veggies like carrot or broccoli.
Research for organic restaurants and juice bars.
With tools like Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor, it’s easy to find restaurants and juice bars that serve organic food, smoothies, and juices in the area where you will be traveling. Nowadays, even the smallest cities and towns have restaurants that offer organic food items. Also, most airports offer organic food. If you plan to visit restaurants in any location, you can first research whether they serve organic foods.
Once you find some restaurants that use organic ingredients, make a plan or write a list, so you can have a general idea of where you will be eating on your trip or on your stay to the destination. There’s nothing worse than having a limited time to visit a beautiful place to end up taking 30 minutes of your time figuring out where to eat.
Check for the nearest organic grocery store.
After you reach your hotel or shortly after you accommodate yourself, go to the nearest grocery store and get a stock of healthy, organic foods. There are a lot of Whole Foods Market around the country, and you can even find some in Canada and London. When you’re boarding a plane, there are some foods you cannot bring, like fruits and vegetables, if you’re leaving the continental United States. Again, it’s always best to research beforehand.
When traveling outside the United States, you won’t see any USDA Organic seal on products, so make sure you do your prior research before going.
Book rooms with a kitchen or at least a refrigerator.
Some hotels can offer small or even full-sized kitchens. It’s not only a great way to stay on track in your organic diet but also to save money while on vacation. Going out to eat for every meal can be really costly. If you’re staying just for the weekend or if you can’t find a hotel with a kitchen, at least opt for one with a refrigerator.
Stick to eating healthy, whole foods when organic options are not available.
Sometimes, it’s just not possible to eat organic foods in the area you’re visiting because of the location. This can happen if you’re going on a cruise or going to cities in another country. If this is the case, opt for a healthier restaurant or healthier food items. It’s harder to stay on an organic lifestyle while not at home, so you may look for whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and complex carbs.
Travel to places where it’s easy to find organic food options.
If you’re traveling at your own will – meaning, it’s not work-related or business-related – then you can choose a destination where organic living is more prevalent. It’s so much easier to stick to an organic diet while on vacation, where most locals already live that lifestyle.
Bottom Line
Organic food is always good for the health, and it is especially beneficial while you’re traveling. Travel can cause a lot of exhaustion, so having organic food with you while traveling will keep you healthy and energized.
Since you’ve already made extra effort to go organic, it’s good to extend a little bit more so you can stay eating healthy even when you’re on the go. Just remember, if you happen to indulge a bit in treats that are not organic, don’t beat yourself up – you’re on vacation or out of town! It’s perfectly okay for you to enjoy yourself and try the local cuisine when you’re not in your hometown.