 Tips And Tricks For Eating Healthy While Traveling
A lot of my patients have told me about their travel plans in the New Year. One of the biggest complaints I hear from them is how difficult they find it to stay on track with healthy eating while traveling. So many people view getting out of town as free rein to eat whatever they want. And while it may not be the end of the world to indulge for a meal or two, consuming mass quantities of processed foods, carbohydrates, and alcohol at every single meal will have you feeling a lot more than just homesick. Indulging in too much processed food, carbohydrates, and alcohol can cause inflammation, high blood pressure, and constipation. These symptoms are bad enough to deal with when you’re in the comfort of your own home, but if they hit while you’re away, you may have a recipe for disaster. Plan ahead to stay on track. If you’re driving to your destination then you really don’t have an excuse not to eat healthy foods. Without the constraints of air travel rules and regulations and without suitcase space being at a premium, you can pack a cooler for the road and stock the fridge when you reach your destination. Pack up lots of your favorite kombucha and green juice. Kombucha is fermented, which means it’s loaded with probiotics that help with inflammation and digestion. It also contains vitamin B and iron which may enhance oxygen flow by increasing hemoglobin in the blood, giving you an energy boost (and one that would be preferable over consuming more coffee!). Green juices are great for supporting your immune system while traveling. They’re loaded with nutrients and provide a healthy dose of vitamin C. If air travel is on the itinerary, you may not be able to take kombucha and green juice but you can pack a shaker and shake or smoothie powder (this one is my favorite and the sample sizes are perfect to take along on your travels). Fill the shaker with water once you’re through security and mix up a healthy shake whenever you need it. Healthy snacks for air or car travel Crunchy If you’re craving something crunchy, don’t be tempted by the convenience and allure of vending machine Cheetos or peanut butter crackers! Opt for nut chips or organic rice cakes instead. (Adding a little almond butter to organic rice cakes is one of my favorite satisfying snacks!) And before leaving home, head to your nearest health food store (or order online) and stock up on raw, organic nuts and seeds - but make sure they have nothing on them! Flavored or salted nuts are usually processed with hydrogenated oils which contain trans fats that can lead to arterial plaque buildup, among other things. Sweet Dates are a fantastic, whole food alternative to any of the processed, sugar-laden snack you might reach for. Plus, they’re high in fiber and antioxidants and are just as sweet as any candy. My family is also a big fan of Granny Smith apples dipped in raw, organic cashew butter, and since it’s not something we usually eat at home, it feels like a treat. Granny Smith apples are the lowest glycemic index apple which will help when it comes to keeping your blood sugar stable. Salt/Fat Grab a bag of cut carrots and your favorite hummus for a satisfying snack on the go. Hummus is a great, protein-packed alternative to other unhealthy dips. Made with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, olive oil, and lemon, it’s loaded with healthy fat and fiber. Olives are another great snack. They’re easily portable if you’re out and about and are a great source of heart-healthy fat and antioxidants. My family loves these handy travel pack olives. Once you’ve reached your destination Whether you’re a guest in someone’s home or staying in a hotel, feel NO SHAME for maintaining your healthy diet while traveling! Prioritizing your health is something you should be proud of! Drinking hot water and tea are great ways to help those toxins flush out and help soothe your digestive tract, especially when enjoyed first thing in the morning. Plus, you can find hot water anywhere! A good rule of thumb for healthy eating whether you’re traveling or not is to opt out of carbs and processed foods and opt in to whole foods. This can feel tricky, especially if you’re staying in someone else’s home, but one of my favorite things to do in this situation is offer to help prepare a dish. “I make amazing brussels sprouts” or “I have this great salad recipe” allow you to be a wonderful, helpful house guest while also reaping the benefits in the form of having at least one, healthy, whole foods dish to enjoy. And even if you’re just a guest at someone’s home for dinner, I always let the host know that I’m bringing a salad to pass for this very same reason! Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the change in routine, different foods, and different environmental factors can cause constipation. If that happens, I highly recommend taking a plant-based, multiform magnesium supplement daily, and increasing the dose if you still can’t go. Eating healthy foods can be more challenging when you’re away from home, but with a little planning, “I can’t eat healthy when I travel” is no longer a valid argument. Take a vacation from work and the everyday stressors in your life, but don’t take a vacation from healthy eating.
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 Welcome 2019 with a Detox
We’re in the final days of 2018, and while we hope you’ve been experiencing your best health yet, you may still be struggling with a few lingering issues that you probably don’t want to invite into 2019. Unexplained, chronic fatigue, frequent headaches or migraines, difficulty losing weight, are just a few of the MANY REASONS why it’s a good idea to do an annual system detox. Each year Well Balanced Body offers a supervised purification program to both clear and support the systems with proper nutrition, so you can start the New Year feeling your best. Why detox? Our bodies are constantly exposed to external or environmental toxins as well as internal toxins that are due to challenges like poor digestion, certain enzyme deficiencies, and more. Our bodies are designed to eliminate toxins with the help of the liver, kidney, bile, colon, lungs and lymph system, but if you’re not supporting your body with proper nutrition, your body’s own detoxification systems can no longer properly eliminate toxins. The toxins in turn accumulate in the tissues causing a whole host of annoying symptoms, like poor ability to shed excess weight, brain fog, acne, muscle tension, joint pain, and decreased organ function (like infertility) to name a few. Even worse, toxins cling to fat cells, connective tissue, and organs like our brain, which can lead to a toxic body and brain. Yikes! But won’t a detox make me feel like crap? Most purification programs focus solely on eliminating the bad stuff. You’ll lose a few pounds, sure. But then the headache and sluggishness start. If your purification program doesn’t incorporate proper nutrition, the toxins that release from your tissues can’t be properly eliminated from your system. You’ll either end up putting back on every single pound you’ve lost, or you’ll keep the weight off but continue to feel like toxic garbage. Our program is different Well Balanced Body’s supervised purification program is a simple, whole food detox that supports your body’s entire detoxification system. Toxins will release from your tissues and be properly eliminated through your body’s own detoxification system with the support of proper nutrition. No headache. No digestion issues. No feeling like garbage. To see what’s included in this program, click here. (hint: no supplements, just shakes and REAL FOOD) Is a detox right for me? ‘Detox’ can be a buzzword this time of year, but just because it’s on-trend doesn’t mean you should do it, especially if you’re not planning to do it correctly (i.e., without the support of proper nutrition). So, let me ask you a few questions:
Bottom line: Your diet is not supporting your detox pathways and your body is depleted of nutrients. Alright already, I’m in! Our 28 day supervised purification program begins this year on Thursday, January 10th. If you want to start off 2019 feeling like your best self, call or text 916-936-5528, and get 10% off your detox order! Place your order today, so you'll have everything you need to start with us on the 10th. Ready to really take your health to the next level in 2019? Join me for Functional Flow Yoga each Friday in 2019 at 4:30pm aka "Happy Hour" Yoga. Hope to see you there! Happy New Year! |
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