One question I get often is how do I travel AND be grain-free? Following a special diet myself I know that can be a challenge. I don’t claim to be any travel expert, but I have taken my fair share of plane rides and long car rides have some tips and tricks up my sleeve when you take a trip.
1. Plan Ahead
This is the biggest tip I can give you. This has nothing to do with the type of snacks you bring with, it just involves using your head and really thinking through your trip and where you need food and where you will be taken care of. For example, when I travel to health seminars I need to take care of my breakfast, lunch and snacks. Dinner is usually out at a nice restaurant and I know I can find some good food eating out.
Some things to think about:
- How many meals do I need? Remember you will get hungry often. This may sound silly, but in the past I have underestimated my hunger and then under packed snacks.
- Will I have a refrigerator available? If you have a refrigerator it makes packing snacks much easier! Then you can decide between perishable or non perishable snacks and store them in the hotel or condo throughout your trip.
- How much room do I have to pack snacks? If you are flying, are you checking your bags or carrying on? It also determines the size you can bring with you. your liquids have to be 3.4 ounces or less. Unless it is completely frozen. You can take frozen liquids in your carry on bags. I know this first hand because I traveled a couple of weeks ago and took two frozen kefir beverages with me and they passed security just fine. The agent told me the liquids have to be 100% frozen to clear security. They may be hand checked after they go through the security line so you can plan a couple extra minutes through security.
- Will there be a grocery store nearby? This will also help you to determine how much you need to pack. If you are staying at a condo or have a refrigerator in your hotel room you can make a trip to the grocery store and stock up on a few items vs packing them. I usually don’t have access to a grocery store when I travel so it is up to me to pack everything I need.
2. Make a List
I am a major list maker. I love writing lists that help sort out in my brain what I need to pack. I list out my days and make a very generalized meal or snack plan of my days. That way I can plan accordingly for the food I pack.
3. Be a Saavy Packer
In my opinion there is a few essentials when it comes to packing snacks for a flight
- Cooler Bag: I have a special cooler bag that I always pack when I travel. It’s called a Pack It and it has the freezer pieces in the bag. Right before I leave for the airport I take it out of the freezer and pack my food. That way it keeps whatever I pack cold until I reach my destination. It has a clip so you can always attach it to your carry on for easier travel if it doesn’t fit in your carry on bag.
- Ziplock Bags: Yes, I always pack some extra ziplock bags. You never know if you need another one or need to wrap up a snack to-go.
Some of my Favorites!
- Pack it Cooler Bag
- Amasai (can carry on frozen, checked bag only cold)
- Trail Mix (I make my own)
- Hydroflask. Thermos which is great for keeping water cold or keeping coffee or tea hot. I always travel with my hydroflask and is one of my most favorite and most used possessions
- Olives
- Avocado
- Apples or other fruit
- Go Raw Bars. They contain dates as the sweetener and are filling and easy to transport
- Peanut Butter Packets, or almond butter packets
- Raw Cheese or goat cheese
- Epic Bars: Grass-fed beef or bison and free-range turkey bars. This is a great source of protein
- Homemade Snacks. The picture is of my coconut flour chocolate muffins which is my travel go-to recipe.(Recipe Here) Any muffin or nut bar works to travel with. I put them in ziplock bags or plastic storage containers so they don’t crumble apart.
What is your favorite travel snacks? How do you store them?
In addition to finding these snacks at your local health food store, Amazon you can also shop at Thrive Market and get the best deals on foods delivered right to your home.
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Leslie Churchill says
Your website and articles are amazing. You have encouraged me and taught me do much in my own health struggles and to help my patients. Thank you Dr Meghan!
Meghan Birt says
Hi Leslie :) Thanks so much! One thing I love to do is to have my recipes be an inspiration to others on their health journey and not feel like you are stuck in a rut when it comes to healthy eating. It IS fun and it DOES work!! Blessings!!