Healthy Traveling and Recipe Tips — The Dirt on Vegetables

The things I love most in life include food, family, and friends, which you have probably figured out if you are a regular reader of my recipe posts. And though it isn’t a part of daily life like the things I listed, I am also very passionate about travel. I just spent most of the month of June traveling through Europe and it was incredible. I am not sure when I will get to travel for this length of time again, so I am glad I seized the opportunity. On this trip I saw the Coliseum in Rome, the rolling hills of Tuscany, the Duomo in Florence, the beach towns of the Cinque Terre, the canals in Venice, the waffles, chocolate, and beers of Belgium, the cheese shops of Amsterdam, and even Big Ben in London!Twenty-six days of travel and I gained zero pounds. Can you believe it? I know—I am getting over the shock myself. The great thing was that I didn't even deprive myself of all the great food and wine; I just ate smart and stayed very active.While I do love to travel, I hate the part where you actually, you know, travel... I mean, who doesn't? Is there anyone who especially loves hauling luggage, waiting for flight delays, rushing to the next plane during a layover and then sitting next to an unpleasant person on a stuffy aircraft that you can barely lie down in while your legs are all crammed into this teeny, tiny seat? No way. All of that schlepping from here to there is something that I will never get used to, but there are ways to make traveling more bearable.

(Our sentiments about flying coach after being miraculously bumped to business class on the previous flight).

By the time I get through security, I might be feeling a bit ferklepmt, (pardon my use of Yiddish jargon, but I find that often those are the only words that can best describe exactly how I am feeling) but I am never going to compromise my health or my taste buds by eating some highly processed, pre-packaged garbage that they offer at the airports and on an airplane. I know that the choices vary in certain terminals, but the options out of Logan Airport have been pretty appalling.I traveled to Cleveland last month and came to find that since there was not a single healthy option in sight and 3 out of the 4 airports I visited during that trip. That infuriated me, so I decided that for this trip to Europe, I was going to plan ahead and be prepared.Planning ahead can sound daunting, especially when you have 5,000 other things on your mind before leaving for a big trip, but it's actually fun and makes you feel really excited when you pull out your delicious eats. Here are some recipes and tips that I have so you too can feel awesome during and after a trip because you ate smart and delicious food.TIPS ON A PLANE:1. Don't eat the highly processed, prepackaged junk that they give you on the plane. Just don't do it. It tastes pretty bad and it isn't worth the calories. The food is also loaded in sodium because things tend to taste bland at high altitude. Hello bloating and dehydration for food that tastes like crap... No thanks. Instead, pack yourself food that doesn't need to be refrigerated. I make myself a really simple and delicious hummus and I chop up some vegetables like carrots, peppers, and cucumbers. I store them in a really cute container and I whip it out of my bag whenever hunger strikes. Sometimes I make dulce crackers and dip those in the hummus as well. Making your own crackers for the plane? Baller. And not that difficult.2. Pack foods that aren't mushy or contain excess liquid. I have tried and failed miserably when packing things like burritos or wraps for the airplane. Leakage usually occurs and my hands, as well as my bag, become a huge mess. Now I pack things hearty like a roasted beet salad. This meal is filling, delicious, healthy and doesn't have a strong odor. It fulfills all of the check boxes on my list. Other meals that travel well are Quinoa with Roasted Red Peppers with Spiced Cumin Dressing and QUINOA WITH APPLES, PEAS, COCONUT & GINGER MISO SAUCE.3. Homemade snacks rule. You can buy granola or snack mixes when you are at the airport, but they are all loaded in sugar and fat. They are deceptively unhealthy and honestly, who wants to put on pounds due to indulging on sub-par trail mix? I'd rather save my calories for some fresh buffalo mozzarella on focaccia bread once I get to Italy. The solution? Make your own granola and snack mixes! They are super easy! I love making this Strawberry Hemp Granola. It is easy to make and has a long shelf life in your bag. Sometimes I add some coconut flakes or another fruit like dried mangoes. Store-bought granola bars at the airport are very expensive as well, so make a batch before you leave for your trip and wrap them up in a ziplock bag in parchment paper so that they will last for weeks! Here is my go-to bar recipe: Berry Cherry Bars. As far as trail mix goes, I make this one because it is my boyfriend's favorite: Asian-Style Snack Mix. It's got a little crunch, a little spice and it is full of flavor.4. Go nuts for nuts. Whenever I am feeling a hunger pain, but dinner is still hours away, I go for a handful of unsalted, roasted pecans. These are my favorite nuts to pack because I feel like I can't eat an entire bag in one sitting and they also make everything I sprinkle them on taste better. Remember that roasted beet salad? Yeah, these pecans definitely bring it to another level of yum. Also, pairing the nuts with some dried fruit adds some sweet and a chewy texture, which makes me slow down and prevents me from shoveling down the nuts.5. Sliced apples always go in my bag of food because they are sweet and crunchy. Mushy fruits don't travel as well, so I stick with apples. They are so refreshing and they even make my teeth feel cleaner after consumption! Throw some sliced pears in the mix if you have them.TIPS DURING AND POST TRAVEL:1. Try to stay at some places that have kitchens. It is hard to stay healthy when you are at the mercy of eating out for every single meal. If you don't have the option of staying at a place with a kitchen, which was my conundrum at times, then I suggest ordering either a really big lunch and a small dinner or vice-versa. When Sam and I ate a really big lunch, I knew that I would be ordering some fresh veggie platter with beans for dinner or the opposite if I were planning to have a big dinner. I never felt that I was sacrificing because the veggie and bean platters in other countries are often the most fresh and delicious option anyway! There is nothing like a tomato from Italy... what could be better?

(Superfood salad with the cutest dressing container ever)

2. Eat gelato. This sounds like a contradiction, but when the heck are you going to get gelato like that again? Not for a while. Just make sure that you exercise daily and you'll be fine. I hate running, but I basically do it for the gelato. Which brings me to my next tip...3. Go for jogs and make them part of your sightseeing adventures. I hate running and you can never convince me that it's fun to run, but jogging is a great way to burn calories and when you are running by places like the Ponte Vecchio or a beautiful vineyard next to a field of gracing cows and a little old milk man making his deliveries... it makes jogging bearable. When I am jogging in a foreign land, I make a list of places that I want to see and then I create a route where I can jog by all of them. That way I taking in the sights and shedding some lbs. A running partner always helps keep me motivated as well, so encourage your travel buddy to put on their sneaks and hit the pavement along side.

(I tripped and fell, hence the facial expression, but I am a klutz, so I am sure this won't happen to you!)

4. Rent a bike. There is only so much you can see by foot, but you can cover so much more turf on a bike. We explored Tuscany and Amsterdam by bike and it was the best way to really take in what the region and city had to offer. As long as the destination is bike friendly, I say use a bike as your primary source of transportation.

(My 61 year old dad being the bad ass cyclist that he is... my role model)

10463986_10100153769277330_1078456043752847012_n

5. DRINK WATER! The best way to avoid jet lag is to drink tons of water. I know you know this, but you should actually put this method into practice. I even wore a dorky camel back on my back some days, just to make sure I would drink regularly. If you could avoid caffeine and alcohol once you get home, that will help you recover from jet lag much quicker since both are very dehydrating. I can't say I am the best at this practice since I love my cup of coffee and my glass of red wine, but I believe that you can do it if you put your mind to it! If you do, then good for you! You are my inspiration.

(Sporting the camelback)

6. Have picnics. The best way to ensure you are eating healthy and fresh food is to pack a picnic. My favorite meals on this trip were picnics and they were a great way to relax and get some fresh air. Also, they were a great way to enjoy the local cuisine.Readers: Do you have any healthy traveling and recipes tips? If so, I would love to hear them! Please comment below and let me know!Here are all of the recipes from the post so you can find them easily when you want to try them:simple and delicious hummus Quinoa with Roasted Red Peppers with Spiced Cumin Dressing QUINOA WITH APPLES, PEAS, COCONUT & GINGER MISO SAUCE.Strawberry Hemp Granola Berry Cherry Bars Asian-Style Snack Mix