Over the years, I’ve learned so much about how to eat well while I’m traveling, or even just dining out, as both are so important to maintaining my health. I wanted to share my tips on keeping your gut happy, as Mike and I are getting ready to head back to visit our soon-to-be new home in Naples!
Taking the time to make just a few simple, stress-free changes can really add up. Here are some quick tips for dining out + traveling that can help you to feel great!
My Quick Tips for Dining Out
Calling Ahead
If dining out makes you nervous and you don’t want to ask a million questions once you’re there, simply call the restaurant ahead of time! If needed, you can ask to speak with a manager to help you navigate the menu depending on your dietary needs. Calling during non-peak hours (aka, not during breakfast/lunch/dinner) and asking nicely will always carry you far.
Avoiding Junky Oils
While I definitely don’t stress about it, I do my best to avoid an excess of low-quality oils (canola/soy), which are commonly used in many restaurants. Salad dressings are often made using these, so one of the easiest ways to avoid extra junky oils is to switch this up! My favorite way is to simply skip the dressing and ask for a side of olive oil and a few lemon or lime wedges.
When ordering breakfast, ask for your eggs to be poached. This means that they’ll be cooked in water instead of whatever oil they happen to be using. I do this unless I know the restaurant is using something legit to cook their eggs with, such as butter. My go-to breakfast order is almost always: poached eggs, crispy bacon, and a side of avocado. Simple, delicious, and it keeps me feeling energized!
Dining Out at Someone’s House
When you have food intolerances/allergies, dining out at another person’s house that you aren’t super familiar with might feel tricky. However, it doesn’t have to be that way! How you approach this is going to vary depending on the situation, but here are a couple of my easy tips:
- Bring your own dish: Calling/texting ahead of time to ask the host if you can bring a dish, and/or simply explaining that you need to avoid certain foods for your health is a great way to go. If someone is inviting you to dine at their home, the odds are, they want you to feel comfortable and make sure that you have something to eat.
- Carry some snacks with you: You can see a list below for some of my favorite, portable snacks. If you’re totally unsure of what the food situation will be (such as at a wedding), having some snacks on hand as a backup can help to release any major stress.
My Quick Tips For Traveling
Packing Snacks
Whenever I’m traveling, or know that I’m going to be away from my house for the day, I’m always sure to bring snacks along! Having something easy and healthy on hand can be a real game changer.
These are my go-to travel snacks:
- Beef jerky – Belcampo + The New Primal are my favorites!
- Dried fruit
- Nut butters – Justin’s + FBomb Macadamia Nut Butter are my go-to’s.
Hotel Room Lunches
Most hotels include a mini fridge. If yours doesn’t, you can always call the front desk and ask if you can have one delivered to your room. Having just a few healthy food options on hand can make a huge difference! My go-to hotel room lunch is almost always a snack plate. It’s easy, delicious, and keeps me feeling great.
These are my go-to snack plate items:
- Cheese – I love Cypress Grove Midnight Moon, any variety of goat cheese + Organic Valley 100% grass-fed sharp cheddar cheese. For dairy-free options, both Kite Hill Foods and Miyoko’s Creamery are great too!
- Crackers – My favorites are Simple Mills Sea Salt + Mary’s Gone Crackers Real Thin crackers.
- Chips – Plantain chips or Siete Foods tortilla chips are my go-to’s.
- Deli meats – Applegate is one of my favorite brands and rotisserie chicken would work great here as well!
- Fruit – I prefer purchasing pre-cut fruit, grapes, or berries to make it easy.
- Nuts/Seeds
- Hummus
- Olives
- Guacamole
Yelp is Your New Bestie
I use the Yelp app (on my phone) to find great restaurants in the area. I’ll use search terms such as “grass-fed beef” or “wild caught seafood,” as for me, high-quality food is super important for keeping my energy up. If you avoid eating gluten, searching “gluten-free restaurants” is also a great way to go. From there, I’ll check out the restaurant websites & menus to see if it’d be a great fit. It can take some time, which is why I typically do this before leaving home, but I really love finding hidden gems!
Travel Packs
I also love bringing travel packs of collagen peptides to mix in my morning matcha (Mike loves them for his coffee), as well as packets of Athletic Greens. It’s our added insurance policy to keep us feeling awesome, as it contains 75 vitamins + minerals and zero fillers!
I know that it can sometimes feel overwhelming and a bit scary when you’re new to a specific way of eating, but practice will build so much confidence! Letting go of any stress and simply doing the best you can in each situation is what’s important. I hope this is helpful for your next dining out or travel adventure!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase something from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage, at no additional cost to you. I will only ever recommend products that I truly believe in, and that I use myself or find to be very valuable.
This is very helpful. Eating out or being away from home for meals can be stressful. Thank you.
You’re so welcome Donna! 💕