Confucius once said, “Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.” Even though that was said thousands of years ago, that rule still applies today. When it comes to eating healthy on the go, it’s all about preparation. Sure, you can stick to your healthy eating when you have the time to prepare your own meals, but what happens when you have to leave your Paleo cocoon and enter the real world? All of a sudden, you’re picking food based on convenience rather than on nutrients and after a while (read: a few days), it can and will catch up to you. So whether you’re traveling for fun or for work, it is important to prepare yourself for success.

 

It seems like the past few weeks, I’ve done nothing but travel. Some travel for pleasure, some travel for work — but no matter what, I always try to put myself in the healthiest environment possible. Why? Because I know that when I’m faced with the options of cookies or ice cream (which I try not to keep in my house), I will most likely buckle. I know that if these things are around me, they create temptation. If you are trying to stay focused on an eating plan, then you need to create a healthy surrounding. If I start to get a little hangry, aka, hungry + angry, and I don’t have anything to quench that hanger, I’m going to reach for the nearest appealing food. If I start to get a little hangry and I have a delicious protein bar or raw almonds in my bag, I can quickly tell the hanger (hungry and angry) gremlin to take the next flight.

As it is every day, it is important to recognize what your energy output is during any specific day to tailor your nutritional needs. If you have completed two WODs in a day, you’re going to need more carbohydrates and nutrients. Before all of you Paleo lovers stab the screen at the sight of the general word, “carbohydrate,” I mean good nutritious carbohydrates that replenish glycogen stores such as fruit, sweet potatoes, squash and other vegetables. Paleo man did not always have access to these foods, but Paleo man was not completing 24 rounds of Cindy and then trying to clean and jerk the next day. That being said, if you’re not going to expend much energy during the day because you’ll be on a cross-country plane ride, you won’t need nearly as many carbohydrates (bummer, right?). Figure out what your activity level is for the day and tailor your nutritional needs around it.

Here are my six tips to eating healthy on the go:

1. Bring fresh food with you. If you’re going on a short trip, prepare your food beforehand. Whenever I’m going on an airplane, I prepare things such as salads, chicken, sweet potatoes and vegetables. Another great option for food on the go is nuts: almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews — pick your favorite and snack away. These foods are packed with healthy fats and are very satiating. Just remember to stick to only a handful! Note: TSA does not count bags of food towards your baggage allowance: score!
Click through to read Collette’s full article published in The Huffington Post.

 

*This article was originally published in The Huffington Post.