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Eating Clean on the Run

Written by Julie Kelly

Sept. 29, 2014

Travel, road trips and vacation can be difficult when you’re eating clean, but it doesn’t have to be. Most of our travel is for bike races. We are fortunate enough to have a VW Eurovan that allows us to cook on the go and keep quite a bit of food at the ready. I know not everyone has the ability to take a stove with them wherever they go, but there are some things you can do to keep yourself on track almost anywhere. I’ve done all of the following to some degree while staying in hotels, rented cabins and while visiting friends. All of these pics are from our last big road trip to Idaho!

Make a few things that only need to be reheated.

I almost always make a combination of a large quiche, meatloaf, burgers or meatballs. These things are great for any meal and pair well with fresh salad, sauteed veg or broth. Some are great on their own for a quick snack. If you are only going to have access to a microwave, you can pre-cook more of the meal.

Pre-prep veg to save on washing, chopping and mess.

I use my food sealer almost exclusively for travel prep. It’s so versatile. On my last trip, I pre-chopped my veg and portioned into individual bags, so I could just empty the whole thing into the pan when I was ready to make a meal. This was such a big timesaver. I didn’t have to spend a lot of time hunched over in a tiny space cutting up kale and onions. This would also be great when you are in an unfamiliar kitchen or hotel with few cooking implements at your disposal.

Keep your fresh produce simple and on the hardy side.

On my last trip, I brought lemons, limes, fresh herbs like cilantro, dill and parsley. I also brought avocados, green onions and salad greens. These things hold up fairly well in the cooler/fridge and keep for several days. They also liven up several-day-old leftovers quite nicely.

Don’t leave home without some canned fish, hard boiled eggs, sauerkraut and fat.

For fish, we love sardines and kippers. These save the day when you can’t break open the stove and only have time for a salad. The eggs do virtually the same thing as the canned fish: instant protein. The sauerkraut is another addition to a salad that saves you time chopping or preparing any other veg. I bring a jar of coconut oil, stick of Kerrygold Butter and a jar of olive oil. I also pre-mix some balsamic vinegar and olive oil to use on salads and vegetables. Having healthy fat on hand can also help dress up a meal when you eat out, can make your snacks more filling and keep you from overindulging in road trip snacks.

A few luxury items can really save the day and add a little touch of comfort away from home.

For me, luxury travel food consists of a few packs of nice prosciutto, bacon, fresh eggs, US Wellness Meats Pork Rinds and picking up some kind of grass-fed meat in a local market wherever we are traveling. This list will vary widely for you, I’m sure. Having a few things that you are really looking forward to cooking and eating can make the difference between a working vacation and a relaxing one. As the main cook on these endeavours, this is crucial to my happiness.

I have a lot of triumphant stories about feasts I’ve prepared in less-than-awesome kitchen spaces while traveling because of these tips.

Do you have any great clean eating travel tips? Email me!