Hi Vibrant Health Seekers
No diet is easy all of the time and some days can be a challenge. Two days a week I see clients away from home, and the roadhouse between work and home presents a few challenges.
The reality is the only items fit for human consumption are water and coffee. I refuse to buy water because it is more expensive than fuel per litre and because I have a filter at home, so I travel with water.
Coffee I will buy unless it is late in the day or in the evening, so that the caffeine doesn’t interfere with my sleep, and for some reason I don’t like coffee after 2pm. I usually stop just for a few minutes break or for fuel and walk past the multitude of fast food outlets.
These purveyors of heart attacks are usually packed with people eager to fill their stomachs before they continue on with the strenuous task of driving or being a passenger down the highway.
Ok I admit I’m the odd one out and sometimes I’m tempted, but I feel good when I get back into my car with my arteries and blood sugar intact.
For me it’s about carrying some snacks. An apple, some almonds or some simple protein balls. If I was going to be on the road for hours I would need to plan out my food more carefully. Prepare a meal, take left overs, buy a roast chicken, boil some eggs, make a salad etc.
I think back to my childhood and the road trips I had with my family. Food was organised in advance because the modern roadhouse didn’t yet exist and the greasy garage wasn’t the place my mum would let her family eat.
Eating and travelling is about as difficult as we make it. A bit of planning, and a simple commitment to your wellbeing and of course just making the decision to keep on track.
If you travel rarely then perhaps a takeaway meal could be your cheat meal for the week. But I have a feeling that if you have avoided this kind of food for a while then you won’t enjoy it as much as you think you would.
That long thought about big mac or KFC could turn out to be a big disappointment, but if it does meet your desires, then completely enjoy it, savour each bite and don’t feel guilty. Your body can cope with the occasional indiscretion, and if it can’t then it will let you know, that’s for sure.
Wishing you Vibrant Health
Ian & Dr Susan Newton