Traveling doesn’t have to be hard.
Step 1: Choose your companions wisely.
I’m 3 weeks out from my next competition. And I’m in Arizona this week. Trying to get in 7 lean meals a day is NOT an easy thing to do on the road. As I’ve described (in greater detail) before, I simply bring my own.
My diet changes this week mean no fat, no sodium, and a more limited list of fruits and veggies (to avoid bloating). I packed enough food to eat 6 meals per day, and I carried it ALL on. No checked bags. The unplanned meal is one I can get at the spa restaurant where we’re staying (I called ahead).
And yes, you can make it through security with a lot of unmarked powders. 😉
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We left after Meal 2 today, so 5 of my 7 WIAW meals were all eaten on the road. It was actually fun! This trip I rocked the desserts. Hard core.
Check out my 7 low fast, low-sodium, protein-filled meals below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how more normal people are eating!
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Meal 1:
My morning cocktail (apple cider vinegar, water, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos). This is the one thing I haven’t figured out on the road since ACV is a liquid and that won’t fly. I savored my last one for the week.
Then I rocked a workout in one of my favorite race t-shirts in honor of Boston. I was a sweaty mess for breakfast, which was a cherry PB & Jeggs… on top of a corn tortilla. Not gonna lie, it would have been better on an english muffin.
Meal 2:
My last meal at home. This was straight up awesome – the best sea bass I’ve ever made. I don’t think it was my preparation so much as it was the freshness of the fish. I guess they’re in season?!
For my side I had a quick salad of cherry tomatoes, raw zucchini, basil, red pepper flakes, and rice vinegar.
Meal 3:
Lunch on a plane. I packed up my version of a chopped salad – chicken baked in Ethiopian spices, cauliflower, celery, celery leaves, and cubed sweet potato.
Meal 4:
Bison on a plane! With cauliflower and snow peas by the light of my laptop.
My mom was staring at me in disbelief. She even said “I can’t believe you were the kid who wouldn’t eat anything but bologna every day.” My, how times have changed… and she was jealous because all she’d had time for that day was a shake and a bar. Bwhahaha!
Meal 5:
We were both famished when we reached the hotel. Our room wasn’t ready, so we enjoyed dinner on the patio looking out at the mountains.
I ordered a simple salad (that dressing wasn’t used) and then added my own no-salt turkey and a side of sweet potato. I wanted to leave the ‘tater on the foil… I thought it was funny… but Mom got embarrassed and told me to put it on the plate. LOL!
Meal 6:
We went for a long walk and checked out the spa (where I’ll be all day – OMG their gym is NICE). On the way back we swung by one of the restaurants at the property where I obtained a plate and silverware. Eating out of a baggie isn’t the end of the world, but if you can have a real plate… well, that’s just better.
Mexican baked chicken with cauliflower and snow peas. I had cauliflower to use, can you tell? 😉
Meal 7:
This is part of my dessert creation success. I took individual containers of non-fat Greek yogurt and mixed them with oats, a fruit, and various flavors. Then I cover them in foil and place them in the freezer. This way, when I pack them, they also act as an ice pack for my other food.
Tonight’s selection was mashed blackberries, cinnamon, stevia, and cocoa powder.
Just as good as the creations I make at home, my friends!
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Sitting on that patio at dinner in that dessert spa atmosphere I wanted a margarita so bad. I texted my trainer to beg. He said no and that I would appreciate it on competition day. He’s right… but damn.
Did you #workitout for Boston yesterday?
Have you ever whipped out your own food at a restaurant? I’m shameless.
Seriously SO impressed by your packing abilities with the food situation. I tend to get a little on the lazy side and just pack some bars, oats, protein powder, and a few other things in case and then just hope I can find things the rest of the time. Maybe not the best for healthy travelling, but I guess I barely travel. Maybe once per year.
Haha, I have in fact whipped out my own food in a restaurant. Oops?
Whatever.
All the eats look great today!
I was the same way until I didn’t have a choice – you’d be suprised what you can figure out when you have to. 🙂
Holy cow! You brought all of that in a carry-on?? That’s awesome. I’ve packed several days worth of food for my kids when we’ve traveled because they have lots of food allergies which makes eating out on vacation sometimes challenging. but I never have done that for myself. I ran for Boston yesterday with a heavy heart.
Yup! At home I use tupperware, but travelling required baggies to save space.
Wow! Way to be super efficient in bringing all that healthy food!! I’ve brought some healthier snacks but never full meals. Pretty amazing and inspiring for future travel!
Nicely done.
Dedicated girl. Be funny watching you explain that one at check in!
The weather looks great in AZ. Its chilly in So Cal today.
So now I am gonna scout your site for foodie choices. I need to show off the abs of steel that are hiding under this body fat. 😉
Funny enough, I didn’t get a single question!!
I always feel proud when I pack a healthy meal to eat on board but you put me to shame :)! I am impressed to say the least! Have an awesome time in AZ with your mom…I will have an extra cocktail this week on your behalf 😉
You’re such a kind girl. 😉 Drink 2 for me!!!
Holy smokes, did that take forever to pack? 🙂 Love it though! I do the same, but not to that extreme. Hugs friend. Almost there. 🙂
Not at all! I just did my regular food prep and put it in baggies!
You are amazing! What an inspiration 😀 That dessert thing looks freakin’ awesome – I haven’t missed yogurt at all until this minute. Sigh.
girl, it was good. but I’m still jealous of your sausage roll. 😉
you are just AWESOME! Seriously, on my next vacation I want you to fly to Kuwait and come back my meals for me.. you game??!! & your only THREE weeks out from your next show? Crazy. I feel like it was just yesterday you were starting.
Have fun @ the spa darling <3
Ok… but only if I get to go on vacation with you. 😉
I ran for Boston yesterday morning and was sad.
Ha, your Mom sounds so like mine. Mine would be embarrassed if I would pack out my own food at a restaurant and I wouldn’t care 🙂
I’m totally impressed how you stay on track while on the road. The dessert looks delicious and the view of the hotel beautiful!! Enjoy it!
LOL! She’s getting used to it now. It’s so funny!!!
yesterday was such a somber day—even this non runner ran.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever taken out my own food at a restaurant but I’ve certainly taken out my own stevia!
I absolutely worked it out for Boston yesterday…no running, but a killer leg workout, if the way I hobble up and down the stairs this morning is any indication.
Haha – gotta love leg day.
I am so impressed at how creative you are with the travel meals! Those dessert look awesome too. I might have to make some for home!
Thank you! Last night was a PB&J flavor – my favorite so far!!!
Seriously love how you travel! You make me feel so very normal LOL. I almost always bring my own protein to restaurants. Around here, vegetarian simply means leaving out meat. So it’s very plain, sad salads or really bad food for you like eggplant parm. So, I bring my own stuff to spruce up sad salads or have them concoct something with random ingredients then add my protein. I can only think of a few places that actually have tofu on the menu, maybe a few with homemade veggie burgers. I refuse to pay double the price of a box of frozen veg burgers for 1 measly one they nuke.
We ave a ton of places that serve homemade veggie burgers, but not a lot of tofu… you can find it, but I’m always suprised at how rare it is. It’s such an easy thing to have on hand and prepare!
Mmm . . . sea bass sounds good. Halibut is currently “in season”, so maybe sea bass is too. Just three more weeks . . . and then you can celebrate with a margarita!! 🙂
That’s what I was wondering too… I should buy some Halibut!!!
I did workitout! I gave it my all and more!
I tried Bison for the first time on a plane. I’ve enjoyed it ever since (when I got to a burger joint, I typically order the Bison burger).
Meal #2 looks great!
3 weeks?!!!! Holy moly! So excited for you!!! xoxoxo
On a plane?! What airline? That’s awesome!
bison on a plane > snakes on a plane, or at least I would imagine so. 🙂 Great job packing! Failing to plan is planning to fail.
That’s what I was thinking while writing that. LOL!
I was the exact same way when I was younger. All i ate was bologna sandwiches everyday!
Nice work with the planning!! Great example to all!!
I tried to carry yogurt onto a plane – but it was confiscated at security!
I think it must only work if it’s thick Greek, or if it’s frozen.
I’ve really loved reading this WIAW 😀 I love the looks of your yogurt, hun. I noticed your diet changed a bit. How’s that going? <3 Love you so much. I have never had fruit before bed. How do you like that?
I’ve always had fruit at meal 7. 🙂
I simply would not have the dedication to do all that, very impressed!
Wow! I pack snacks and fruit when I travel but nothing like this, im so impressed with how organized and committed to your healthy eating habits you are. I hope you enjoy the day at the spa!
It’s amazing what you do when you don’t have a choice… trust me, I’d have never done this a year ago. 🙂
oh yum on the travel food! I have packed single serve packets of plain tuna, home made dip & raw veggies for plane trips & my hubs just rolls his eyes. on our last cruise I had individual Waldens farms dressing, braggs amino acids in a spray bottle, braggs nutritional yeast in a huge jar & my own tabasco chipolte! It was sweet- people came to our table & commented on my salad building 🙂 I am stoked to see all your travel desserts! and the bison- Delish! you are my new foodie inspiration- have a FAB trip!
I love that you BYO on a cruise! The only thing I’ve ever smuggled on is booze. 😉
I ALWAYS get stopped by security. While I like to THINK that it’s because of my STUNNING GOOD LOOKS (lol), it’s actually because of my POWDERS and my sardine cans (that are packed in water/olive oil)… They always have to check… But then when they open my suitcase they also see the MASS AMOUNTS of Orbit Gum I have in there, I have a crazy oral fixation for that stuff – lol, I should be the CLEAN MOUTH SPOKESMODEL – hot damn… And they see my hard core vitamins/supplements collections -They get suspicious about my pills because I am always kind of an energetic nut job, so they think I am on drugs.
Nahh… The security men just want to open my suitcase to see my panties – LMFAO!
LOL! They totally just want to give you the pat down.
Dude, how good are English muffins? I swear, I don’t know why I forget how good certain foods are and they reappear in my life and it is like the heavens opened up, angels sang a chorus, and I had an epiphany that resulted in a food fixation I can’t deny. [See: Eggs.]
Tell your ma that aluminum foil (and paper towels) = plates.
One time, a restaurant refused to give me any extra raw veggies for my hummus appetizer. I mean, if you offer salads at your establishment, you HAVE to have raw veggies. Is that really so hard? But since I’d been sightseeing all morning, I obviously had raw carrots for snacking in my bag, so out they came!
Of course, my overall thoughts are: you and I could travel somewhere and never need to buy a single meal, and even though we might miss out on some culturally fabulous dishes (hence, we wouldn’t ACTUALLY do this), many people around us–especially in the airport–would be super jealous that we had thought ahead.
Oh, and always smile sweetly at TSA. They really will be kind about letting you get stuff on board if you are kind to them. (And offer to share. ;))
Also, I need to still try that frozen Greek yogurt trick.
I HATE when they are stingy with veggies! It’s like you have to fight with them NOT to have their icky chips. I will say that last night at the spa restaurant they felt bad mom got the bread and brought me a giant bowl of jicima and carrots. I could have kissed the waiter. (I refrained.)
Me + you = travelling groumet restaurant
Love Arizona! It was my favorite place to live when I was moving around with my last job. So jealous! Have fun!
I ran yesterday and every step was for Boston. Every. single. step.
My mom wants to move here now. 🙂
Wow you certainly were organised when it came to packing your food – and it all still looks really good! Knowing my luck everything would be smushed or my greek yoghurt container would have burst everywhere! Hope you’re having a good time 🙂 and im sure youll be able to enjoy that margarita after your comp 🙂
That’s another good reason to freeze the yogurt – no busting!
Ha! Love that your mum was embarrassed by you. I feel like you’re getting in a triumph for all kids everywhere who’ve been embarrassed by their parents in public.
Bwhahaha! I didn’t think of it like that, but SO true!
You and your mom crack me up! Hope the spa has been treating you well! Your trainer is right! Hang in there girl! You’re doing great!!!!
You have to meet her one day – you’d love her!
So amazing! I am headed down to Florida for a week next week for work and I have already started planning some of my snacks/meals. While I don’t have a competition to go to I like having the control to eat what I know is healthy for me. I hate coming back from trips, feeling gross!
Good for you! Anytime I travel for “fun” I can’t wait to come back go green.
Wait… First off… you brought ALL that in your carry on ALONG with your clothes for a week!? What! You’re a superhero.
Secondly, I’m so impressed with that preparation!! Genius.
Lastly, I am just as shameless as you. I have definitely stuffed turkey meatloaf muffins in my purse before. It was an Italian restaurant for my aunt and uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary. Fried calamari, bread, cheese, pasta galore! I had no choice. And I’d do it again.. in a heartbeat!
I am SO GLAD that your competition is before Blend!! I need you to be able to go on crazy foodie adventures with me! 🙂
And DANG i could never, ever have your discipline. I complained every single night when I was a teacher about having to pack breakfast and lunch each day. That was way too much effort/thought for me!
You’re a beast (in the best way possible)!
You and me both, my friend. That wasn’t an accident. 😉
Rawr.
Your ability to travel with food continues to impress and baffle me 🙂 You have SKILLZ. And tasty food. In Arizona!
So excited for your competition!!! I can only imagine how hard it must have been to pack all of your meals for this week. I’m sure nutrition needs to be spot on right now!
Unfortunately, my goals of competing were put on the back burner last month. 🙁 Too much to share in your comments (and I’m still keeping it on my list), but for now I am living vicariously through you. 🙂
It really wasn’t any harder than the usual food prep… just had to put it in baggies instead of tupperware and make sure the veggies were hearty enough to travel . 🙂
What’s going on?!
You are so funny – the begging!!!! At that place where you are, I would just want to sit out & chill.. yes, enjoy the walking outside too – how beautiful!
YOU ROCK the prep on the road – you & Candyfit! 🙂
I wish I could chill more! Silly work.
I’m so impressed – you are the travel queen!!! When someone tries to give an excuse to not eat healthy, I’m just going to start pointing them to you. 🙂
Awwww… thanks, Heather!!
You are so hardcore! I love that you prove that fitness competitors CAN travel on a strict diet. It’s all about the planning!
That’s why we have Excel! LOL!
I’m shameless with you girl…. I take food into restaurants all the time! Even with no sodium or fat, your food looks awesome!!
Good idea on the yogurt! I’ll definitely be stealing this idea!
Let me know what you think! It’s SO good!!
I am impressed with your food packing skills! LOL! And that greek yogurt dessert? Looks heavenly! I need to try it!
Thank you so much! It’s kind of a fun challenge. 😉
Wow so impressed! When I went to on my trip to Southeast Asia I packed so much food and was surprised they let me bring it all on! Best thing EVER! It helped out so much and even though I was in First class and could pre order my food I was happy I brought my own because I KNEW exactly what was in it ingredient wise. It takes dedication and I am happy to see I am not the only one who does this 🙂 My mom would say the same thing to me but with mac + cheese lol Have a great trip! Love + Shine CourtStar
People are always suprised you can bring food, but as long as it’s not liquid they really don’t care!
Laura, maybe if you found some small jars, either recycled or new ones if you can find them and made sure they were no more than 2 oz. then you could get the ACV into your travel mix. You could maybe pare down other liquids (shampoo,etc) which you can probably get from your hotel, then you could have your morning cocktail. Just a thought.
I thought about that but I’m afraid it will leak!
That frozen yoghurt idea is gold my friend, my mouth is watering 🙂
And stick to that diet, I don’t think I have seen anyone more dedicated!
Make up an exact document – where to advertise new posts
Sorry ignore that last bit I pasted the wrong thing, I thought it was a smiley 😛
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Only three more weeks? Are you nervous about competing already?
I hope you’re having a great holiday with your mum in Arizona. Soak up all the sun and relax in that amazing environment!
You’re seriously impressing me with your food packing skills! I’m not sure how I’d handle traveling with those special dietary requirements but your meals look great – especially that lunch salad. Where do you take all your creativity from?
I am and I’m not… if that makes sense. I’m rady to do it again, but there’s nothing comforting about wearing a bikini on stage. LOL!
My mom was always a great cook. I guess I owe a lot to her!!
Wow! I cannot believe you got that all on the plane. Makes me feel like I better darn well be able to pack my car when I have way more room.
Thanks! It’s like a fun challenge now. 😉 Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
i always feel weird trying to get white powders through security, but weirdly it’s worked for me (the whole two times that I flew!)
side note … am i a terrible person for not wanting to get pix next to you at blend because you’re going to be in competition shape and i am going to look like a heifer next to you? kidding. kind of. of course i want pix with you, but yeah … (granted you’ve been working your ass off … I have not!)
also, i have a drawer full of string bikinis that i kind of want to send you because i’m never going to wear them again and i think you could find a use for them (or maybe give them to other competitors?). 🙂
shut your face! we are going to get a billion pics together becasue clearly we are rockstars. 😛
Haha. That’s too funny with your sweet potato in foil.
I just have to say that I’m super surprised that they let you go through the airport will all of that. You would have thought something in their would have arose suspicion. Good to know 🙂
And your idea of freezing the yogurt to multipurpose it for an ice pack and food is GENIUS.
People are suprised, but there were never rules about food (domestically) – only liquids! 🙂
Thank you!!
Holy CRAP girl!! I am always amazed with how much food you manage to pack AND make past security! I’ve never even attempted to bring anything that wasn’t a bar for fear that they would throw it away! I just don’t want to risk catching one of those bastards on a bad day ya know? And I’m shocked and amazed that they let you pass with the ziptop baggies of powder…shocked and AMAZED!!
Oh, and just a little goofy me observation…I take Triflex too! Yay for joint care! 😉 Bahaha!
I brought my own peach and peanut butter to a pancake place once. Then I asked for some cinnamon once I was there! Lol
There are no rules on non-liquid foods! Including powders, apparently. 🙂
I always ask for cinnamon. And peanut butter. I’ve never brought in my own fruit though… obv I must try it now.
It’s good to know you can pack those protein powders with no repercussions 😉 I’ll remember that for my next flight! Ethiopian spices sounds interesting on chicken – what do you use in particular and where do you get it? I’m always looking for ways to change up my plain ole chicken breasts!
I make my own salt-free spice blends… and am trying to get it together to sell them!!! Stay tuned. 🙂