Guest Chef Time!

by

This week’s guest chef is more a lurker than a commenter (could it be he’s intimidated by all us women?) but we love him all the same.

Jeff is a personal trainer, a nutrition counselor and (am I allowed to say this, Jeff?) a fitness model on the side.

*And* he was generous enough to swing by and offer us some nutrition tips for when life takes us on the road.

Like most Americans I am faced with travel on a daily basis as well as to far off destinations. Daily travel can prove to be quite challenging, but it is possible for me to keep a healthy and adequate nutritional lifestyle while on the road, provided that I do a little planning in advance and use my head.

I hope to help you understand how to achieve your daily goals in nutrition while on the road as well as keeping those stress levels down.

Whenever I travel by car I can manage my time by preparing my meals the night before and packing them away in Tupperware containers or an ice chest to keep my items fresh and available.

You can’t be sucked into the fast food life style that is at every strip mall when traveling by car. Time can be an issue but if you are truly in a hurry you can bring high protein, low carb shakes that are ready to drink to help take the edge off stopping so often to eat.

If you do chose to stop for a quick bite and don’t feel like a sit down meal, there are a few things you can do. Throw away the bun to your grilled chicken sandwich; make it a low-carb snack that you can feel good about. Order an unsweetened ice tea, instead of a soft drink. Instead of those French fries have a side salad.

By now, you may be asking, yeah thats great in all, but I do my traveling in the air. No problem, Ive got you covered!

I highly recommend Labrada Low Carb Bars, or EAS Carb Control shakes, as these will be good options for a nice snack, as you will only have limited choices on the plane. You will have to drink your protein shakes before hand, as they will not allow you to go through the security detectors with a liquid substance. You also have the usual suspects, unsalted nuts, or cashews are a nice treat for the time being. (Trust me, nothing is more painful to watch than a security officer throwing away and entire serving of delicious whey!) Another option is to bring some protein power with you in a small container and then ask for water on the flight.

Depending what type of diet you’re on, you can pack in your suitcase milk n oat cups. You can bring instant packs of oatmeal with you as well. Once you land and are checked in your hotel room you have a viable source of carbohydrates ready and available at your convenience. Remember, even if your hotel doesnt have microwaves in the room, almost all of them will have one at the front desk that you can use if you need to heat up your oats.

I hope I have shed some light on a few basic nutritional ideas that will help you in your daily travels whether they are by land or air. Remember, as long as you plan for your goals, there are no excuses not to achieve them!

Thanks so much Jeff. You’re now an official member of the Bumbling Band.

Speaking of you guys——got any extra tips Jeff didnt mention? Hit us up in the comments.

Me? I’ll just leave you with the it would blow your mind how many foods one can prepare using merely the hotel room coffee maker idea as we all know I mightcould ramble about travel food for days.

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Comments

  2. thanks weelittle. Now I have a topic for my next post.
    Mister Coffee and the Myriad Ways I Use and Abuse You.

    M.

  3. Seriously, the coffee maker? I can’t wait for that post! Me – when I travel, I try to take some small bags of granola or nuts to snack on, or maybe a banana.

  5. I already have invented a million ways to use our office microwave to create tasty food and AVOID the stodgy northern fare on offer at our work’s canteen.

    However it doesn’t do too much for worker relations when you’re hogging the micro’ for 15 minutes steaming your vegetables…steaming your chicken… heating your soup…

    GREAT idea on the oatmeal. I live on the stuff and I always forget that you get kettles in hotel rooms. Thankyou!

    TA x

  6. I would have to eat outside (even in the cold east coast winter time) when my lunch consisted of tunaouttaenvelope.

    I couldn’t inflict that on my officemates.

    Or they would have gotten my arse fired.

    Either way.

    M.

  7. Mr. Coffee abuse? Oh no! πŸ™‚
    Thanks for the tips – eating well on the road is soooo hard….have a friend who travelled every week for years. After he quit, he lost 65 lbs in a few months…..

  9. Great tips!

    I’m not a low carb person, so on the road I tend to supplement junkier take-out meals with apples, bananas, carrots, and other produce that you can sometimes find in convenience stores or at deli’s. I’ll eat half the burger and add a piece of fruit and a (horrors) diet coke and minimize the damage while appreciating the junky goodness of the burger. But yeah, a better approach would be to throw out the bun instead of splitting the burger with a pal.

    And, um gals–have you clicked on his link? There’s a reason this guy is a fitness model.

    Not to objectify, but, well, dude is buffed.

  10. Crab?
    With all respect to the Lobster— I love you.
    On all yer dietcokedrinkingmenobjectifyingburgerchowingdownuponing levels.

    M.

  11. I need to remember this when school starts. I’m never prepared and always scrounging for junk. I think they’d get a little irate if i used the coffee machine to make anything other than the swill they call coffee…

  12. When we’re on a road trip, I always pack a lunch before hand, so we have no excuse to stop for fast food. I also take any fruits and veggies we have at home to snack on while driving and a big ziplock bag of nuts!

    Of course, I usually fall asleep as soon as we start moving!

    I’ll have to try the premade shakes for road trips; we always take a cooler with us!

  13. Mr. Coffee abuse. HAHAHAHAHA

    (OMG, I could get myself in HOT WATER with all the things I could say about that….) hehehehe

    And thanks for the tip, Crabby – going to check that link now – even old Bag Ladies need an eye-opener occasionally….

  14. Public Service Announcement:

    Ok…I can’t help it. DO NOT USE THE HOTEL COFFEE MAKER. EVER!!!! Seriously. My best friend used to be an undercover vice officer. He used to do those hidden camera hotel room stings. Um…you really don’t want to know people do in those things. Ugh. Seriously, never use them. Go to Starbucks or the hotel restaurant.


  15. Imagination
    Running
    Wild
    Greta
    Need
    Specifics
    Please
    STAT.

    M., who is throwing up a little in her mouth.

  16. I’ve actually got a couple of conferences coming up on the West Coast, so this is really timely advice for me!

  18. Great tips!! I’m headed onto a flight tonite, so this couldn’t be better timing for me:).
    One of my favorite travel snacks is the good old peanut butter sandwich! Of course, I’m talking natural peanut butter and my favorite whole grain bread is the Ezekiel. Easy to pack, travels well, and holds you over for good span of time!!

  19. Great tips!! I’m headed onto a flight tonite, so this couldn’t be better timing for me:).
    One of my favorite travel snacks is the good old peanut butter sandwich! Of course, I’m talking natural peanut butter and my favorite whole grain bread is the Ezekiel. Easy to pack, travels well, and holds you over for good span of time!!

  21. Yeah, I have to know what Greta knows!! Do tell!

    I travel with packs of Craisins. Sometimes a gal needs some sweets and they satisfy. I love them.

  24. Great tips! I always carry an empty water bottle through airport security, then fill it at the water fountains on the other side. Adding protein mix wouldn’t be too hard.

    Jen, I’ll see you at BlogHer! That’s going to be a slight challenge (and we’ll see if manage to again serve a meal where every dish had cow’s milk in it!).

    My travel stand bys are nuts, fresh fruits and SoyJoy bars.


  25. Waah.
    I wish I were going to Blogher to take on the eating clean challenge with ya’ll.

    Perhaps I can get MetRx to sponsor my entire experience if I vow to consume nothing but protein powder concoctions (made SANS coffee maker!) the whole time….

    (And yes. Thus endeth my pity soiree.)

    M.

  26. Great tips! Can’t wait to hear about the coffee… Not so much about the hotel one… lol I’m skeered!

    Dang he’s buff!

  27. I will be packing it up for the weekend that I’ll be in Put In Bay! I have to remember nuts and stuff since we won’t have a fridge in our room… luckily, I know where the good salad bar is!

  28. Great tips Jeff! While I am not one for fast food, I am always trying to think of what is healthy and convenient on the road. I bought one of those collapsible ice chests and when traveling keep it in my car filled with fruit, raw almonds and water. Sorry McDonald’s, but you won’t see my face in your drive-thru window! Kudos to you Jeff. Tell us more! How about the Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts of “Healthy Snacks”….like those power bars? Yes or no?

  29. Heeello Jeff. lol.

    Okay, I know about instant oatmeal packets, but milk n oat cups? Are those just those little travel oatmeal cups you add water to? I don’t think I’ve ever seen them with actual powdered milk in them. A whole new world may have just opened up to me…

  30. Super tips! Thanks for them.

    I’m all about taking sandwiches/fruits/veggies when I travel, too. And in the past when I’ve traveled by plane I’ve taken enough healthy food on the plane with me (in the form of said sandwiches/fruits etc) that I didn’t have to eat any of the plane food. Although the person sitting next to me always thinks I’m really weird when I’m in flight from North America to Europe.

    Does anyone happen to know the nutrition stats of airplane food in general (all I know is that its mostly high in calories/fat etc and not that great for you as well as tastes horrible)? I’d be curious to know if there’s any healthier options you can make in the meal choices.

  31. Good stuff — well, except for the hotel room coffee maker — makes me wonder what’s going on in them things…

    We always travel with water bottles for everyone, and then a mix of “good” snacks and “bad” snacks. I usually eat the good stuff (nuts, carrots, apples). The kids like a little chocolate, and some chips. OK, I like a little chocolate too! Natural PB is another favorite. In fact, I keep this stuff at work with me all the time. A spoonful is a great snack in the afternoon.

  32. i don’t even travel and still want to pull in to all the drive thrus i pass. working on that and keeping healthy snack for me and the kiddos on hand while we are running errands!
    great tips!
    can’t wait to hear the scoop on the hotel coffee makers and gross out my pilot husband!

  33. You HAVE to tell us about the coffee maker! That’s a riot!

    Okay – trainer question for you – as you know I started “lifting” if you can call it that this week. Today was legs! I skipped the suzanne sommers thigh crunchy thingys on the circuit because I distinctly remember someone said that they don’t do a thing for the outer or inner thighs, is that true????

  34. ok, I’m late to this party b/c I clicked on the Jeff link and now cannot look away. (sigh)

    anyway, great tips! my hubby travels all the time and uses the excuse that it is too hard to eat well on the road. I am forwarding this info to him . (hopefully he won’t get stuck on the Jeff link like I did! LOL!)

    Clean eating challenge at BlogHer? Count me in. No mini-bar raiding for me. πŸ™‚

  35. you guys crack me the hell up!

    and make me sad I have a day-job.

    Some day I’ll be all MizFit all the time.

    Until then—-many thoughts/suggestions coming atcha later.

    M.

  36. I use hotel coffee makers on a weekly basis (IF and only if the hotel offers decent coffee and the liquid creamer… I don’t do the powdered crap.) I don’t think I want to know what’s wrong with them!

    This is a great little post for an on-the-road-all-the-time gal like myself. I’ve never considered the protein powder, as I prefer to chew my calories rather than drink them, but might be a good staple to keep in the suitcase just in case I’m in a bind.

    I typically keep a box of kashi in the car for emergency munching, and each trip I bring several options such as fruit, portable veggies, light string cheese, almonds, a Gnu bar or two, and if I foresee being pressed for time, a sandwich made w/Ezekiel bread, hummus, spinach and a Dr. Praeger’s California burger. Yummo!

  37. Miz, you are more than welcome to stay at my house if that makes BlogHer affordable… I know flights must be insane, but hotels are just ridiculous these days! I’m for serious, and now is your chance since I’ll be moving in August!

  38. random musings:

    *cookie? I love (moniker &) your suggestion for the healthy snacks post. it’s coming!

    *the ‘cups’ to which Jeff referred are a BRAND. you can make your own by hauling along some protein powder in a ziplock/oatmeal in a rubbermaid container and VOILA no need for a name brand.
    if Im feeling LAZY Ill bring the premixed oats & protein CLICK HERE like this.

    *Sagan? Im not sure (and dont think I wanna know ;)) The urban myth always was (is?) order the Kosher meal as it’s better (all relative) but I do know you can go online to some airlines’ websites and select anything from LOW SALT to vegetarian.
    Might be worth it for those (Imsojealous) Eurpoean jaunts!

    OK

    Off to plop back on my day-job bandanna,

    M.

  39. Hi there. I travel for a living, especially lots of traveling from December to April. When I first started, I was HEAVY and ate so poorly. Now, I plan ahead. I ALWAYS bring at least 2 pieces of fruit wtih me on the plan – apples, orange, banana – something that travels easy. And nuts are great for that crunch you sometimes crave. For a little protien, some turkey jerky (althought the salt makes me SWELL like crazy). Then of course, good ol’ Kashi bars. If you have a layover, they usually have sandwich places that sell veggie trays – I usually get one of those. Sometimes a plain turkey sandwich if I know I’m not going to land until late. I take all the fixin’s off one half and put it on the other half so I have double protien and only half the bread.

    Regarding picking a different type of meal on the plane – it’s useless. They don’t get it. I once chose a ‘low carb” breakfast option. I got a bagel. Seriously.

    MizFit – on another note, I think I need to get a protein powder in my routine, but I’m a freak about carbs and too many calories. I’m sure you have mentioned your favorite on this site before, but I’m lazy – can you remind me of your recommendations???

  40. I think I can make it even simpler…just go to CVS or any large grocery store and buy the 200 calorie or under “snack bars” that are constantly on sale…2 boxes for 5 dollars = 12 bars…these are prepackaged and ready to eat…Quaker Oats has peanut butter and nut bars that are great and my personal favorite…Reeses Sweet and Salty Peanut Granola bars…170 calories and 180 mg sodium…the sodium is hardly a concern…eat every 3 hours, without fail…and water, water, water whenever you can….4 pack

  41. (hastily switching bandannas once again)

    POM? CLICK HERE for my protein shake rant.

    for what it’s worth.

    this one is a highly personal choice (taste, I mean. not the act of clicking. though I guess that is as well…)

    M.

  43. Oh I love it. I have been working the unsweetened iced tea into my diet to avoid evil soda. I make it a 30-calorie drink by adding a couple of packets of sugar and some lemon for flavor. This still means it is like drinking one fifth of a soda.

    The coffee maker to heat up any liquid. And get this, the if you bring some aluminum foil along you can put the food on the heating element, but….

    Nothing is more fun than using the iron and the steam button!

  45. “You can’t be sucked into the fast food life style that is at every strip mall when traveling by car.”

    I completely agree. With just some planning ahead, fast food CAN be avoided.

  46. Perhaps a portable one-cupper for gift-giving? Ewwww, my imagination is running rampant.

  47. it’s processed but this is the oatmeal premixed with protein that I really love CLICK HERE.

    great for trips when steel cut oats sadly arent an option.

    M.

  48. I’ve driven cross-country by myself a few times, and this is exactly what I did, too. I hated relying on fast food restaurants, so I packed my own snacks in advance and had them ready for when I got hungry. Another plus? I didn’t have to make an unnecessary pit-stop! πŸ™‚

  49. I understand that but where does it take us?

    “Logic, like whiskey, loses its beneficial effect when taken in too large quantities.” β€” Lord Dunsany πŸ™‚

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