People are always so curious about how much we eat out given that we are almost constantly traveling. Truth be told, with a little pre- game thinking, maybe a  tiny bit of prep and some creativity, my lunch looks more like this on a daily basis.

While I am all about spending a couple of hours a week doing some things to make meals & snacking easier, I totally bought everything up above all ready done. We had limited time and limited resources, so I made it work. Yes, we can now purchase eggs already boiled in our modern day society and I love a flavorful, but not mayonnais – Y  tuna and the quinoa really hit the spot! Green olives stuffed with feta, ummm, yes. Protein, savory & satisfying all around

The container is fantastic as it has several different dividers for a girl who loves variety. Really, they are available all over, so please don’t pay more than $12 for it and that’s a bit much. I think I found mine @ TJMaxx or Marshall’s for about $8.

Cheers to a healthy lifestyle on the go – go! Small changes do count and will add up -promise!! Plus, your body & mind will thank you!

Thanks for swinging by and be sure to show some love or share with someone who may!

xx

Renee

Who doesn’t love a nice meal out every now and then?! A night off of cooking, meal prep and the best part — no clean up!! We all do. But what happens when that now and again becomes the norm? Even if it is for just a small stretch of time, eating out can catch up with you. Given that my weekly schedule looks like an organized train wreck more often than not, as much as I plan with snacks ahead and prep in a kitchen while I have more than two pans to work with (hey living on the road means one must improvise on a daily basis!) I thought I would share some of my tips for eating out, when you have to versus choose to! 😉

If you feel like a burger

• Ditch the bun and ask for a lettuce wrap. Most restaurants will accommodate, especially in a gluten & wheat free world. Plus, you can really taste the awesomeness of that burger & fresh ingredients. Skip the cheese & add avocado for a healthy, fulfilling good for you fat! Replace fries, chips or slaw with steamed veggies. May be a small up charge, but it is worth it.

Hotel Breakfast

• Steer away from the bread box, sugary cereal dispensers, strange meat in a pan & oil options, the fun hotcake machine (I know, I ruin all the eating fun, but you will thank me in that swimsuit later ;-)) with chocolate morsels & “fruit” juice machine. Truuuust me on this one. While all of those items are appealing to the eye, they will give you an instant sugar spike, followed by a crash and leave you hungry soon after. Instead, look for hard boiled eggs, fresh fruit, oatmeal (my fave!) — just not the flavored kind in a packet. Many hotels actually have a large container of plain oatmeal that you can flavor to your choice. Cinnamon, almond slices, fresh fruit, a little bit of honey are all good choices. Yogurt can be a great addition, plain and then have fun dressing it up!  Enjoy milk, a cup of tea or even coffee and snag an apple for your bag on the way out the door!!

Fast Food Made Right

• Nope, not every fast food chain is made the same way. When having to choose where to eat when fast food is your ONLY option, here’s a few easy picks that won’t wreck havoc on your body…

–  Chipotle: Burrito Bowl for the win. No rice, double black beans, add your meat, corn,

salsa, lettuce & guac. Say no thank you to cheese & sour cream. Healthy, protein

filled and full of flavor. A no regret choice right there!

– Panera Bread – Pick two. Salad (dressing always comes on the side here) + veggie soup

(love the black bean soup) + an apple for your side. Ready to conquer the afternoon

after this winning combo. The afternoon siesta can wait for another day!

– Wendy’s –  Side salad or Mediterranean Salad with a cup of chili. (NO cheese, sour cream,

or crackers) Those items are just fillers and there is plenty of flavor in the chili!

– Chick-fil-A – Excellent grilled chicken salad (I truly do enjoy mine with no dressing! Call

me crazy, but I love the taste of the ingredients on their own, not covered up) but

they do have lower calorie options. Creamy dressings are not your friend. The grilled

nuggets are awesome. Grilled chicken sandwich, yes, please! No bun, of course  or just eat

half the bun with the lettuce as your lid.

Eggs aren’t just for breakfast anymore…

If you happen to be at restaurant for lunch or dinner that serves breakfast all day, think outside of the box. Have a made to order omelet with spinach, mushrooms, tomato & avocado! Fruit or steamed veggies on the side and wallah , breakfast is served! Lean, mean, energy machine!

The Grocery Store!!!

Is a great stop to pick up a few items to make a meal out of. Grocery stores have gotten really good at providing fast grab & go items. You can often find a variety of salads, soups, kale & protein salads in the deli and much more depending on the grocery store. I love to pick up a bag of carrots & hummus as a quick snack. Most hotels have a mini refrigerator and you can always ask for one if your room does not come with one to store any leftovers for the next day. Don’t have a cooler? Simply ask for two laundry bags. Fill one with ice from the ice machine & the other with your food items, combine & put in back of car until you get home!

There ya have it, some easy tips to incorporate into your travel schedule. Whether it is for work or play, there IS a way!

Enjoy!!

~ Renee

I have this little issue that when hangry strikes it strikes HARD and my Luv tells me I am, ahhhem… I am hard to be around, when this happens, lol!  Yeah, yeah – so I try to avoid the crash for all parties involved.  I know I am not alone, here! Anyone else?!

The best part about the recipe I share below is that I make it right in my NutriBullet that is more often than not – packed in my suitcase. Priorities, right?! 🤣

Truth be told…

traveling and eating healthy does take some effort & planning.  It doesn’t have to be hard, though and I promise, the pay off of increased energy and improved mood is so worth it. You will probably save a little $$ as well not spending it on pricey snacks and feel healthier overall.

Hydration, sleep, exercise and limiting take – out are all helpful tips, especially when on the go and even more so when jumping time zones.

HOW can it be easier??

1. Save easy to prep recipes right to an album to your phone in the pic gallery. That way when you are grocery shopping, you have everything you need right with you.
2. Carve out 15 – 20 minutes a week, before your trip, vacation, etc., to knock out the prep work
3. Keep snacks in mind that don’t require much refrigeration, travel well, are satisfying and are semi – durable.  A few of my faves: nut balls (recipe, below), apples, mandarins (obsessed!), hard boiled eggs & carrot sticks.
4. Keep a water bottle with you so you can fill on the go. A few tea bags in your bag are awesome to have as well and cost a fraction of the price of cafe prices, just ask for hot water and pay for the cup.

Convenience and time are so important.

Here it is:

Nutballs. Super easy, less than 10 minute prep time.

Make two batches at the beginning of the week & call it done. Nothing fancy, just simple and packed with nutrients. The kids will love them too!

• Handful of cashews & almonds (any variety of nuts will do, I love walnuts & pecans too)
• Unsweetened Coconut
• Dried Tart Cherries or Cranberries
• Chia Seed
• Pitted Dates (Crucial ingredient…this is the “glue” that holds all of the goodness together)

My picture gives you an idea of about how much to use. I literally measure in handfuls and fill to the line on the cup.

Combine all ingredients, pulse together a few times or until it appears like everything has been broken down nicely. You may need to add more dates if the batch is a little powdery, from the the nuts – it should look “chewy” for lack of a better description.

Roll in balls, place in container, refrigerate overnight.

 They last all day in a little snack bag or container on the way out the door.

**  Have fun with this recipe, make it yours! Add flax seed, dried cranberries, any type of nuts, oats (regular or steel cut, uncooked) a little honey, scoop of almond butter or even dark chocolate morsels for a healthy alternative to satisfy that sweet tooth!

You can absolutely shape them into squares and use parchment paper so they don’t stick — I just don’t have the patience or ummm, square shaping skills needed! Plus, admit it, nutballs is kind of fun to say! 😉

Thanks so much for stopping by for a read, hope it was helpful.

Let me know in the comments if you have a variation of your own or / and if you try this one.

Enjoy!