Learning how to travel on the paleo diet can be challenging. In this post I share all my best tips and tricks to make travelling on the paleo diet as easy as possible!
How to Travel on the Paleo Diet
One of the most common questions I get asked is how I manage to travel so much and still eat paleo friendly foods. So I decided it was time to put together my tips for how to travel on the paleo diet. Whether you are travelling for a weekend getaway, or for longer trips, trying to eat paleo on the road, in hotel rooms or in resorts I've got all my best tips for you here. Because even though you are eating paleo doesn't mean you should have to miss out on things like traveling. Because let's admit it, travelling is amazing!
1. STAY IN A PLACE WITH A KITCHEN
I cannot emphasize this one enough! Whenever I travel now I either rent apartments through sites like VRBO.com or find hotels and hotel rooms that have kitchenettes or kitchens in them. You would actually be amazed to know that it is often cheaper to rent an apartment then it is to stay in a hotel anyways. By having my own kitchen I am able to make whatever I want, and then I know exactly what is going into the food I eat. It ends up being healthier (and tastier if you ask me) than relying on fast food. Most fast food relies heavily on seed oils which you can easily avoid by cooking your own food and making your own paleo snacks. Plus it is way cheaper to prepare your own meals than to eat at restaurants all the time. It's a win win if you ask me!
2. PLAN AHEAD
Whenever I travel I always scout out the city I will be staying in ahead of time. Is there a grocery store close to where I am staying? Or a Farmers market? Trader Joes? Whole Foods? Hotels are usually great at recommending restaurants and tourist activities but when it comes to some of the basics like the places listed above, I have often found them to be less than helpful and don't expect them to know the best places to shop for paleo-friendly foods or paleo snacks. So, I rely on good old google and google maps to figure out where I need to go. It really doesn't take a lot of work and I often end up exploring areas that less tourists frequent which can be a nice break. You'll be able to find so many paleo foods and paleo snacks in grocery stores and at Farmer's markets that you would have a hard time finding anywhere else.
3. PACK FOOD
Yep I am that girl whose carry on (and sometimes suitcase) is filled with paleo foods and travel snacks. I usually pack a couple meals to take on the plane (breakfast and lunch) and travel snacks. Lots of paleo snacks! I have to say that this got much more difficult when the restrictions on liquids were implemented many years ago but I have leaned to adapt. And here is a little secret from me to you. Just don't tell anyone that you have fruit in your bag and guess what... NOTHING happens to you! I have been bringing fruit with me on planes for years and have never had an issue. I am probably violating some sort of rule by sharing this information with you but I figure border security has much better things to worry about than the banana or apple that I have in my carry on. Just saying. The one time I told the truth and said I had an apple in my bag lead to an hour delay while I and the rest of my family were thoroughly searched and my apple confiscated. We ended up missing our connecting flight and it was a total disaster. And for what? I would love for someone from customs to explain just exactly how my store bought apple poses a threat to anyone. Except for those that are allergic to apples of course...
As for travel snacks, this really depends on what kind of food you tolerate and like to eat. I usually pack some home made paleo baked goods like my Paleo Pecan Muffins, Paleo Carrot Cake Banana Bread, Slightly Sweet Grain Free Granola, Grain Free Bagels, or Paleo Banana Coconut Blueberry Muffins. I also bring some nuts, trail mix, canned tuna or salmon, hard boiled eggs, raw fruits and vegetables. Other great options are dried fruit, plantain chips, jerkies, paleo granola or energy bars.
And if you are looking for some pre-made paleo snack options some of my favourites are:
I also know many people who follow the paleo diet who love to utilize intermittent fasting when they travel. They simply skip breakfast and lunch and wait until they get to their destination to eat again. I personally don't do as well with intermittent fasting which is why I travel with so many snacks, but if it works for you it's a great option for paleo travel and for staying paleo while travelling.
4. BRING A WATER BOTTLE
Just remember to leave it empty until you get through security. I always carry water with me and I feel much better if I use a washable one rather than relying on disposable plastic water bottles that just end up filling up the landfills. Plus I like to put lemon in my water and let's face it, those disposable water bottle tops just aren't big enough to hold a lemon slice.
5. BRING FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS
This one sounds ridiculous I know but I have found that most rental apartments, while well stocked with kitchen utensils and cooking needs are often lacking in tupperware or food storage containers so don't expect to find much in the way of storage containers at your destination. I don't mean for you to go crazy here but I usually throw a couple plastic food storage containers in my bag to store things in once I get to my destination. The same goes for Ziploc bags or Stasher bags. Throw a handful in your suitcase and trust me you will end up putting them to good use!
6. ASK YOUR FRIENDS
Do you have any friends or social media followers who are also eating paleo or gluten free? Ask them for advice! Have they ever been to where you are traveling? If so, where do they love to eat? I have a Facebook group full of other paleo bloggers and I am always asking them for advice when I have a trip coming up. I have discovered so many great restaurants and coffee shops this way. It never hurts to ask! Or if know anyone who lives in the city you are travelling to, ask them! They will likely know the best local restaurants, grocery stores and hidden gems that you might not have learned about otherwise.
Well friends, that's it. My tips for how to travel on the paleo diet. I hope you found this helpful! If you have any questions please reach out. I would love to hear from you. And if you've got any other tips to add please let me know and I can update the post.
And if you are travelling to an all inclusive resort, I've got a whole post on how to eat paleo at an all inclusive resort that you'll love.
Other posts you will like:
- Why Grains are Not Healthy
- Is Mineral or Chemical Sunscreen Better?
- Is Corn Paleo?
- Are Candles Toxic?
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Shannon
Thank you so much for these tips! I'm going on my first vacation (also to Florida!) since going on the Paleo diet and was nervous about making it work. I definitely plan to bring snacks with me and have also added Tupperware to my packing list 🙂