Happy WIAW friends. Hope you had the most wonderful holiday however you celebrated. For anyone new, What I Ate Wednesday is a weekly series where I chronicle a days worth of meals and open the discussion about health and food related topics. I’ve also recently embarked on a slow & healthy weight loss journey (after a history of disordered eating) which I’m chronicling on these WIAW, a little more on that —> here.
The last several years I’ve traveled over the holidays. I actually love doing that because it means less stuff and more family. Not because I’m all altruistic or want to be preachy, but I’m honestly kind of over getting lots of stuff. After moving 7 times in the last 4 years I’m pretty stuff averse at this point.
While the travel and family is fun, eating healthy and being active on the road is no easy feat. We drove down to South Carolina, and now we’re in Florida and after this trip I’m ready to never drive again. I’ve totally failed in the workout department and frankly in the movement department all together. However with a little planning I’d give myself a B- for eats.
Breakfast: scrambled eggs with veggies and fresh crab and french toast
Lunch: Siggi’s & Purely Elizabeth Granola with an Evolution Fresh Green Juice
I’ve been relying on my favorite protein bars, Siggi’s & Fage with Purely Elizabeth Granola, and the Sweet Greens with Lemon from Evolution Fresh which you can find at Starbucks. Oh and if I can find it, I love having some Kombucha too.
Snack: Square Bar
Dinner: Crab, fresh pasta, scallops, green beans and green salad
Perhaps harder than finding good healthy eats while you travel, is not beating yourself up when you aren’t able to eat your normal diet. As prepared as you can be, trying to be perfect isn’t realistic. As far as weight loss goes, I’ve just been trying to tread water. I haven’t stepped on the scale and I haven’t let it stress me out.
Luckily my habits are pretty solid for the most part and I’ll get a kick start as soon as I get home.
Your Turn:
- What are your strategies for staying healthy when you travel?
Lol if you saw my diet during Christmas vacay… horrible, but I enjoyed it! My strategy is to always pack my own snacks. Always, always, always. And sometimes I like to MAKE my own snacks before heading out, too (#balls)
I hate long drives so much and eating healthy while traveling is super hard, especially when your bored. It looks like you managed to eat pretty healthy in the midst of struggle, plus you’ve been eating some delicious crab too!
I try to plan ahead and pack snacks and foods that won’t go bad. I usually always bring nut butter, nuts, Salba chia seed packets, and fruit. These essentials allow me to be good for breakfast and snacks.
I’m so jealous that you get to eat so much sea food! I love it, but it’s not as easy to come by in Tennessee. You did great though especially for traveling! When I drive, I usually try to pack a whole extra meal. It’s weird that I tend to get even more hungry even when I’m not moving at all so I pack so much extra healthy food so I’m not tempted to buy crap at a gas station.
My Christmas diet=cookies, cookies and uhhhhh…..cookies. So yeah, there’s that. As far as on the road travel, I always pack almonds/assorted nuts, bananas, granola bars, and sometimes pretzels. But as far as actual meals go when I’m traveling, I try to eat something like eggs for breakfast, salad for lunch and whatever I want for dinner 😀
Oh my gosh right there with ya. ( and Erin ^^) I had so many cookies and sweets, not enough greens or water, and managed a few days of 20ish minute workouts. But I’ve been back for a few days now and am finally just getting to workout today! And I wasn’t beating myself up about not really working out, it was more of a “I NEED TO MOVE” kind of urge. Feeling sluggish and I don’t like it! So to the gym tonight I go to get in some good circuit training. I definitely rely on my healthy snacks when I travel. And if I am able to get to a grocery store to pick up some fresh items, I definitely do that too. Shoot I just remembered I forgot my kombucha today I wanted to drink with lunch!
Everything looks delicious to me, and pretty balanced all things considered! I am not a fan of long drives because of the whole lack of movement thing…
ALL ABOUT THAT ISH. I’m much better at eating healthy than I am with working out during holidays. Portions on the other hand…something to work on? When we drove from NJ to FL I declared I would never ride in a car again. That lasted a day. But seriously I don’t like long car rides. 2 hours is my max.
I totally rely on Evolution Fresh when I’m traveling too. Luckily my parents are big fans too so they almost always have some in the fridge when I come home! All your eats look delicious to me!
I actually traveled from Cleveland to Chicago this past weekend and had a bag of snacks next to me through the 6 hour drive! Rice cakes, hummus, carrots and I always bring oatmeal in a ziploc bag to throw in a cup of hot water. Starbucks came in handy with this and those Evolution juices did the trick for me as well 🙂 All of that seafood looks delish!!
i try to pack my snacks and carry water bottle when im traveling but again, sometimes it just doesnt work out. since traveling is temporary and fun, i let things happen and get back on track when i return.
That pasta looks awesome! I always try and stick with a giant bottle of water with me so if nothing else I get my water in for the day!
Traveling and the holidays combined are tough! But I love the siggis and cold brew with a side of granola or fruit for snacks. Thankfully more grocery stores and even quick stop places are getting better about their selection!
Looks like a yummy day! I ALWAYS have snacks in my purse. I’m like a walking grocery store lol. I get hangry easily it is best for everyone that I carry around healthy snacks
Definitely feel you about getting away from the “stuff” side of Christmas (I even cried because of it. Emotional much?) As I get older I realize all these little things are a waste of money for others and a waste of space for me. Stuff isn’t the most important thing!
I have turned into the mom of my friends because I always have snacks in my purse. Like granola bars on granola bars. I feel like that helps so I don’t max out at a restaurant from being starving all day!
I am traveling right now and I brought with lots of fruit, oatmeal, air-popped popcorn, and some homemade pumpkin muffins. When I arrived at my destination I went to the grocery store to pick up some more healthy foods so that I can minimize eating out. I just hate feeling sluggish and icky after eating at restaurants so I like to avoid that as much as I can. I also love to run a lot while traveling because I love to explore new areas on foot and all I need is my running shoes!
I LOVE less stuff and more family.
Became OBSESSED with purely elizabeth pumpkin fig granola last fall and i realllllly need to get a bag of that asap. Thank you for rekindling that addiction of mine 😉
mmmm so much seafood I love it!!! I am a sucker for seafood. It is hard when you travel but I try to come prepared with some healthy snacks and then the rest is just doing the best you can do!
You did a great job! Your eats look really good! Staying healthy over the holidays can certainly be a challenge. I feel like the biggest challenge for me is staying active. This season I definitely wasn’t as active as I could’ve been 😮 Oh, happy 2016 btw!