Fave new snack because I heart ranch (anything)

order beach bundles by 3/9 as we're headed away too

I took tennis lessons when I was younger. I don’t remember anything about the lessons or the instructor. I don’t even know exactly what age I was. I recall taking a taxi home so you’d think I was

a teen or preteen but that wasn’t necessarily the case in my family. I’m thinking 5^th grade but who knows? I do remember something and that’s the snack I had after EVERY lesson. I had cool ranch Doritos and cranberry “juice”.  I still remember enjoying this combo in the comfort of the taxi and thinking it was the best snack ever.

While my Dorito days are done, to this day I  like ranch flavor. We mentioned in our newsletter today that there’s something trashy about ranch but I don’t care. Whether it’s the memories associated with it or just the flavor, I like it…a lot.

Recently, I was reunited with ranch. Organic Living who makes sprouted, organic, top-notch nuts sent us a sample of Ranch Cashews (combined with Buffalo almonds). I had a Buffalo wing phase too but that happened in high school for obvious reasons (if not obvious see Carolyn’s Friday post). I had the sample, ordered the Ranch nuts for the office and have had them in my nutcase every day since.

If you’re team ranch flavor, you must try these. We have them on their own or paired with our other favorite spring break essentials in the bundle pictured above.

Yum.

Any somewhat nasty items you enjoyed as a child? I’d love to hear.

Spring Break Travel Foods (Avocados Included)

Avocados enjoying some Belizian sunshine, I don't store them  outside just trying to make you jealous. Did I?

Packing clothes for a warm weather vacation is easy. Bathing suits, flip-flops, easy dresses and sunglasses and you’re pretty much set. I spent way more time organizing food to bring with us, especially since we were coming off a week of eating raw. As I packed what I consider a vacation essential, avocados, along with our swimsuits and shampoo it crossed my mind that perhaps other people don’t stress over their travel food. I looked to the twittersphere and asked, “Do normal people pack avocados in their suitcases?” It turns out they do or at least the food-focused people who I associate with. If you do not, we can still be friends though I’d give the avocado more thought (unripe in the luggage, ripe in the carry on). Avocados can be used for a smoothie in the morning, sliced in a salad at lunch or if you're really on board halved and eaten with a spoon.

Aside from the avocado I must have:

Green Juice- while they don’t go in the bags, I have one on the way to the airport. It’s part last hurrah and part laying the groundwork for a healthy trip.

Container of Crudité- I don’t leave home without a fairly large glass container of crudité. The kids love to munch when they get antsy on flights and it assures me that their travel day has some nutrients. For Saturday’s flight I had carrots, celery and jicama. The container also keeps my carry on tote of food cold.

Bars that don’t melt-there’s nothing worse than taking the time to procure proper snacks and finding they’re a mess when you’re ready to eat them. Skip any chocolate-coated bars. I brought a couple of pure bars and Sheffa bars with us.

Probiotics- if I were forced to choose one travel supplement it would be probiotics. My current probiotic is made by Renew life.

Tea- I take an assortment of tea bags with me wherever I go. For this trip it was Pukka 3 Ginger Tea.

I also asked some of the avocado packers what their must-pack snacks are:

Juli Novotny, the owner of Kookie Karma

Healthy SPF- if in tropical place, most of those spray sunblock are horrible for us to absorb via skin. (I brought Vive Sana on this trip)

 A roll up bag- I consider myself fairly fashionable and yet I MAKE myself take only 1 or two of everything. Less is more when you travel. Bring a tiny roll up bag that you can open up if you decide to buy things; Eagle Creek makes a great one

 Healthy Snacks for the plane- first class or not, better safe than sorry. You never know when there will be delays or issues and you’ll be stuck for hours with only airport food. Our Foodtrainers' March newsletter “Not a Total (Spring) Break” focused on travel snacks and we highlighted Juli’s amazing kale creations.

Amie Valone personal chef, recipe developer and more from The Healthy Apple

Chia seeds for protein

Avocados for healthy fats

Magnesium to help keep things regular

Amy Metcalf aka Amy Danger fitness instructor, nutrition enthusiast and PhD candidate

Lara bars

Steel Cut Oats (& my water heater)

Green tea

Packaged salmon,

Nuts and Shredded Coconut

Carolyn Brown fellow Foodtrainer vacay essentials

Running and yoga gear always

iPod with new playlists

Stash of healthy snacks,-Barney butter  is floating somewhere in every bag I own. luggage too 

Google ahead  of time the best active stuff to do and pre-pick restaurants

I think Juli said it best “I’d rather save those "bad" calories for great meals and cocktails at my destination.”

What are your must pack snacks or foods? Does it take longer to pack your food or your clothing? Have you ever boarded a flight with an avocado?

Travel Eating: Tips and Treats

In the past two days I’ve talked travel-eating strategies with a client headed to Istanbul and another going on safari. My travel plans aren’t nearly as exotic but still require planning. I thought I’d share my top travel-eating tips and treats as well as some exciting news.

Travel Tips: 

Avoid airline food at all costs if you are actually served anything. I don’t care if it’s business class or coach. On certain airlines the food may look decent or taste fine (doubtful) but it’s still brimming with sodium, preservatives not to mention bacteria. Bring a salad, brown rice sushi or sandwich on sprouted bread instead.

Quickies (as far as workouts) are worth it. If you’re used to a super spin class or hour-long run you may feel those are difficult to replicate while away.  Don’t let your type-A ness get in your way. Fifteen minutes of plank, pushups, tricep dips and water-bottle bicep curls are better than nothing. I love my friend Amie Hoff’s advice- tell yourself you’ll do 10 minutes (at the gym or for a run) you’ll always do more. Fifteen minutes a day might keep a little weight away.

Start your day on track. I’m a fan of including protein in breakfast to help control calories later in the day. Whether it’s eggs, yogurt, nut butter or a “shaken” smoothie there’s plenty of time to play later.

No lunch drinking. Maybe it has to do with the city of drinkers I live among and counsel every day but vacation often means every hour is happy hour. This is dangerous. Lunch drinking makes you more likely to eat the wrong things, nap away your afternoon and wake up just in time to drink again. Cocktails, preferably singular, are fine at cocktail hour.

And finally, beware of the "ef-its". I have no problem cursing in real life but don’t think I should here, not sure why.  It’s a few days into a vacation you’re eating anything and everything and feeling down on yourself. Do not ever say “when I get home I’ll eat well” or any version of it; that's  an "f-it" mindset. That also gives you license to eat more and worse.  Pick 1 area to try to reign in whether it’s dessert , the breadbasket or drinking. 

Travel Treats

We organize food “packing lists” for client’s vacations. This includes must have items to help keep them on track when away from home.  The best news of all? All of these essentials are available in our *new* Foodtrainers Online Shop (that’s the exciting news in case you didn’t know).

Kale Krackers- our new favorites from Kookie Karma. These are adult Cheese- Its sans cheese (or any dairy). They’re low calorie and addictive. A carry-on must.

Barney Butter and GG Bran Crips. These 90-calorie almond butter backs on GG’s are a great snack. They also come in handy when breakfast options are slim or “continental”.

Chia Sticks- sometimes things don’t “go” so well when we’re away. Chia can help get things moving. Chia seeds are high in fiber and in the manner in which they digest can act as an appetite suppressant. These single-serve chia packs are milled (no sticking in your teeth) and can be added to yogurt or sprinkled over fruit on the road.

Sheffa- we admit there’s no easier snack than nuts but there’s only so many almonds a person can eat before craving something more exciting. These gluten-free, single serve nut mixes come in various flavors and include interesting ingredients like chickpea “noodles”, coconut and papaya.

Eboost- bust bloat and jet lag at once. “Boost” contains green tea and vitamin C. It’s the perfect healthy, stevia-sweetened energy drink. Just mix with a tall glass of water and enjoy.

We’ve created a fantastic Travel Snack Bundle for you to sample our favorite treats and we’re giving a bundle away. To enter, comment below and “like” Foodtrainers on Facebook. You have until Sunday 7/24.

What helps you to eat well while away? What’s on your food-packing list? Any fun trips planned?  Even day trips need treats, be prepared.