So how do you successfully travel with the Keto lifestyle?
It is not hard, once you make the decision to do it. The challenge is making the decision.
My husband and I recently drove to Montreal to be with our daughter for her birthday, our anniversary and our granddaughters 4th birthday party. Needless to say, there were MANY eating opportunities!
Because our travel is about a 14-hour road trip with all of our stops we had to plan food for a long full day. And given that most of our stops are at EnRoutes – (restroom, gas and fast food), eating can become a particularly sticky wicket. Now I just pack a goodie food bag and fill it with nuts, cheese, some almond flour muffins, almond butter, single serve guacamole packs, pork rinds (it is a vacation after all) and of course at least a dozen Good Fat Bars! While I know I can still do better, this is a good start as it keeps me satisfied and able to go into those stopping points fortified so I don’t fall victim to TimBits and bacon maple potato chips! Plus I feel great when I arrive at my destination. Rather than focusing on eating when we stop my focus is more on moving, then I eat in the car.
One of our favorite places to eat when we visit the kids is in Saint-Sauveur, QC. It’s a cute little ski village north of Montreal. They make a poutine that is divine. For those of you who don’t know what poutine is, it is a bowl of French fries topped with cheese curds, smothered in gravy. So I have found that mentally I am learning to switch my brain to be excited about what I choose to eat now vs what I choose not to eat, ie French fries. Cheese curds, smothered in gravy is also divine, AND Keto friendly. What I am coming to KNOW is this is a daily, life-long practice; a Good Fat Life. Also the more good fat I eat, the less I want the old favorites. This is happening organically. Now there are always those cheats. As I mentioned before, we had two birthdays to celebrate. We all love ice cream cake. Well, at least I used to. I made the conscious decision to have a small slice of ice cream cake. It was delicious and I ate it guilt free. What I didn’t count on is how my body has changed. I got the worst stomach cramps and associated symptoms the next day. UGH! Not sure my previous reaction was actually the ice cream cake I had some again this past week for another family birthday, enjoying every bit as I was hoping last week’s reaction was just a fluke. Same results! Ice cream cake is no longer on my planet. As an adventure, I found some Keto cake and ice cream recipes that I will make for the next celebratory event. Of course, I may make a few extra practice recipes before then!
What is important to note here are three things:
- Plan ahead of time. Bring Keto-friendly snacks to help resist the temptation of “road food.”
- We are going to eat foods not on the Keto diet– if you’re going to eat them enjoy them! Guilt only releases toxic chemicals in our bodies that don’t serve any of us. One non-Keto meal does not mean you have blown the day, so don’t go crazy and eat all other non-Keto foods in mass quantity, just because you “cheated” once.
- Be mindful that you are making a deliberate choice and then get right back on track. It will be a blip for your body physically and emotionally vs a train wreck, and much more enjoyable!
Good Fat for a Good Life,
Sherri
