One of the questions I get asked most often, is what do I do for food when I am travelling. The simplest answer I can offer is to plan ahead. My diet and lifestyle definitely have an influence on where I choose to go for holidays. For example, you definitely won’t find me lining up at a buffet at an all inclusive in Cuba to eat food that has been sitting under a heat lamp. Not going to happen. Like so many other nutritionists I know, meals become a bit of a focus of the trip. We want to make it awesomely positive and fun.
Here is my go-to list of rules for how to stay on track while travelling. Follow them if you know what’s good for you!
Healthy Eating While Travelling
- Pack snacks. Healthy snacks are tough to find on the go when blood sugar begins to crash
- Pack solid fruits and veg (and lie to customs- an apple will not harm any body), apple sauce, mixed nuts and some healthy whole food bars.
- Pick up a few things to have for breakfast in your hotel, or friend’s home that you like to eat: granola, yogurt, fruit, oats etc.
- Plan your meals in advance. Research restaurants in the various areas you plan to be and map them out.
- Ask for recommendations- look up practitioners in the area, other bloggers etc and ask what they suggest (I get these emails all the time).
- Take some enzymes. We tend to indulge more when we’re away. Enzymes will help keep things digesting.
- Don’t get carried away! Weddings, restaurant eating, room service: all tempt us to stray. Stick with the iron will, come home feeling as good as you did when you left and you’ll be happier (and more regular) for it.
A few months ago, I was off to Winnipeg for a girlfriend’s wedding (pics at the bottom) and knew that my pickings for restaurants would be limited. I was going to be staying in a hotel, my grandmother was in the midst of moving, most of my friends, also in town for the wedding, no longer live there full time, and so restaurants it was. I was thrilled to give Fresh Cafe a try. Rated one of Canada’s top new restaurants when it opened, they are conscious of their environmental footprint, support local growers, and in the summer months offered free yoga on their patio. How could I not love that! More exciting than having a delicious lunch of mixed salads and green juice with my grandmother (who actually ate the salad despite the potato being her favourite vegetable), was that it was lovingly prepared by a very old friend of mine, Beth McWilliam.
Beth is the head chef of this deliciously Fresh Cafe and once upon a time in the 90′s, we went to summer camp together. Beth was my counsellor trainee. I taught her everything she knows about caring for children (just writing that made me laugh- the mere thought that the lives of twelve 10 year-old girls was put in my 16-year old hands is absolutely insane!)
As life takes us down these paths, Beth and I went from corrupting the minds of young girls to filling the world with healthy goodness. I’m waiting for her to come to Toronto and be a guest chef extraordinaire in one of my classes (open invite Beth!). Needless to say, the food was delicious, fresh, healthy and alive.
This fresh, local food movement is growing at a pace that makes my heart soar. Fresh restaurant in Toronto is my usual go-to for dinners out with friends and the boy. What is your go-to healthy restaurant in your city?
And because we all like peeping into others lives, here are some photos from that wedding weekend. My girlfriend who got married, is someone I grew up with in Winnipeg and went to summer camp with for many years. Most have us have long since moved away (I moved to Toronto 20 years ago). From San Diego to Israel, we are all over the world and this was the first time we had been together in close to 15 years (now with the addition of some wives, husbands, girlfriends and a baby… and even with this group of friends, I still appear freaky short).
With the bride!
These two gorgeous ladies also made an appearance in the dance photo from last week.
Look at you — all happy and sun-kissed. The pic of the group of you is awesome. How wonderful to get your friends together for that great pic.
And yes, good food tips for traveling.
GREAT tips and fun photos
Looks like the wedding was fun! And great tips–I always take fruit with me while traveling. In fact, when I was in Houston presenting at a conference, my local apples from the mountain next to me back home kept my sanity, kind of like a good luck apple or something.
If you find yourself in Windsor, try the Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant. It has delicious, flavourful slow-cooked foods and lots of vegetarian options. Everyone eats from the same plate to “strengthen the bonds of friendship and loyalty”. It’s by far my favourite restaurant in the city.
When I was little, I used to carry an extra bag for my Barbies and their clothes. When I was a teenager, I carried an extra bag for my makeup and clothes. Now, I’m the girl who carries a bag of food.
I can’t get away from packing extra!
However, it’s totally worth it. I never come back from vacation feeling yucky or regretful of weird or junky food that I’ve eaten.
Maybe I should hire a donkey for the extra bags though…
You’re originally from Winnipeg? I had no idea! That’s where I’m from!
I Love Fresh Cafe! I’m glad you got a chance to go there. It’s one of my favorite places to go when I visit home. (I live in NYC now)
But I’m going to have to disagree with you that the pickings for Winnipeg restaurants are limited.
Although it isn’t known for much, Winnipeg is actually an amazing spot for food! I don’t want people getting the wrong idea about it because there are tons of amazing restaurants and many of them offer vegan/vegetarian/healthy options.
For more info you can check out: http://www.ivu.org/wva/WinnipegGuide.html
Love the pics!
I made it Laughlin, Nevada without eating a single thing off diet after going diet (well besides all the smoke from other people I was inhaling) After that experience I think I can make it through any trip!
I just returned from Winnipeg and wish I had known about all the options. Had no idea. Of course having grown you assume there is nothing new.
Always found eating in Winnipeg a challenge, but my hubbie (Meghan’s dad) loves the regular haunts. A trip to Kellekis almost made me vomit. Thanks for the web site info, most useful.
Hey, what a small world. I also married a Winnipeg native, and my Mom lived there for a while when she was younger. Over the years, we’ve been back numerous times, and I have to agree that I’ve never been thrilled by the culinary options. (I’m with you Patsy- almost gagged after a meal at Kelekis!) Of course, our trips have usually focused around family events, so there’s always been chicken soup, matzah balls, komish broit etc. etc. We were just there a few weeks ago and discovered a great little restaurant called Stella’s. I had a lovely chickpea curry for lunch. Next time, we’ll have to try Fresh. Thanks for the heads-up.
Janet
Spelling of yiddish words is clearly debatable.
Wow! I’m moving to Canada!!!!!!!!!!
Australia has this silly reputation of having fresh food, and a healthy lifestyle with clean beaches. How I wish…
Very good words of advice and cute pictures!
Meghan, I just LOVE that you keep in touch and gather with your old friends. The group shot of you all together after 15 years is priceless! As was the one earlier of your friends at the wedding in Ireland. Just beautiful!
A wonderful resource I’ve discovered when traveling is Happy Cow: Compassionate Eating Guide. They have an online GLOBAL directory of Vegetarian Restaurants and Health Food Stores. Pretty amazing!
My last big trip to the UK I carried apples from Toronto, through London , and over to Ireland.
I want a donkey! Well actually a unicorn but I’d settle for a donkey. I need one for when I do my cooking class runs to the market.
Then why do my relatives always want to go to Rae and Jerry’s, Junior’s, Kelekis and for sushi. Sushi sushi sushi! Thanks for that link!
Since when do you call dad your ‘hubbie’? Stop that.
Kamish!
That is amazing! Thanks for the tip.