Top 3 Tips for Eating Intuitively while Traveling
1.Eat regularly scheduled meals
Our bodies run best when we eat every ~3-4 waking hours. This may be a shorter or longer time span for you; however, no one’s body runs best when it’s been >6 hours since your last meal during waking hours. At this point your glycogen stores are depleted, you’ll feel low on energy & you’re going to be pushing way past normal hunger. This is why 3 meals a day is a good rule of thumb. If you think this doesn’t apply to you, trust me - you don’t have superior glycogen stores. Even if it’s been a few hours since breakfast and you’re not super hungry for lunch, you still need to have lunch at some point. This is honoring you body’s biological hunger needs. You may need to throw in a few snacks depending on your schedule, activities, and hunger. This is normal and healthy to do. Don’t be afraid to speak up to the group when you are hungry. This takes courage, but is totally normal and no one is judging you. (If they do, that’s on them.)
2. Be flexible
A caveat to tip 1. You want to honor your body’s biological needs but you don’t have to be rigid about it. Try to be flexible about the timing and the restaurants. If lunch is late, ok - have a snack. If lunch is early- ok - eat to a comfortable fullness at lunch and have a snack later if you get hungry. If the restaurant isn’t perfect- it’s ok. If it’s not farm to table- it’s ok. If it’s not exactly what you wanted- it’s ok. If your friend or family member really wants to go there but you think the food is unhealthy and you’re stressed out about eating there - it’s ok. Compromise is a beautiful thing that teaches us to let go of control and listen to other people. Practicing flexibility with food will make your trip much more enjoyable and help you live in the moment. Focus on traveling, new experiences & time with your people.
3. Be open to what sounds good
Don’t let the fear of breaking a food rule or a food being unhealthy keep you from fully enjoying your trip. It’s normal, healthy, and ok to enjoy food as a part of a travel experience. Going to Italy? HAVE THE PASTA. Instead of ordering based off of how healthy/unhealthy the people at the table with you ordered, order what sound good. Don’t let what other people order dictate what you order. If you want the pasta but you get the salad, I can guarantee you’ll be thinking about the pasta you wanted all day. This will also make your travel experience more enjoyable and memorable. In 5 years, you’re not going to remember that you broke your diet or “goals” with pasta. You’re going to remember how delicious the pasta was and be thankful that you allowed yourself to live in a moment with your people without letting your own negative self-talk hold you back.
(tag me on instagram @uncoverednutrition if you use any of these tips while traveling!)
Safe Travels,
Desa