Are you starting out on AIP and worried about sticking to your diet while you travel this summer? This is a real concern for many people-- I know I worried about it a lot during my first year of AIP! When you've been cooking all your meals at home and suddenly have no kitchen available, it's natural to feel a little anxiety.
As much as I love traveling, I'm no jetsetter. But Tom and I do travel a lot internationally, within the US, and within Texas. In the past year or so, I was in Tuxtla twice, Cabo, Mexico City, Paris, California, Seattle, Austin every other month, Denver...I can't keep track. I've been all over Central and South America, a little bit of Europe, and most of the United States. And accommodations have ranged from "I can't believe they let me in a place this nice" to "Dear God, even though there aren't four solid walls around me, please don't let me get eaten by a wild jungle animal." So I have learned the value of being prepared as a traveler. When I started AIP about a year ago, it added a whole other level to having to be prepared. Traveling on AIP is not easy and it cannot be an afterthought. But it can be done. Here's what I have learned: 1. Meal Planning is Still Important If you've been meticulously meal planning or batch cooking to follow a strict AIP protocol, or even just Paleo, you know the value of planning out your week's meals in advance. You prevent a "hangry" emergency and strategize for nutrient density. Planning out the week's meals is even more important while you are traveling. This depends greatly on where you are traveling to. If you are traveling to a large city like Paris, Mexico City, or Washington D.C., thanks to the internet (what would we do without it!?), you can search for AIP/Paleo friendly places. Now, a Google search isn't going to render you a nice long list of Paleo restaurants in most cities, but you want to look for restaurants that are ethically and consciously sourcing their foods. If a restaurant is paying attention to their ingredients, they are most likely cooking dishes to order AND are aware of all of the ingredients that go into each dish. From a Google search, I like to look at the menu of a restaurant. If it is a restaurant that sources everything locally but every single dish is handmade pasta, its going to be a little difficult for me to find a dish to modify. I try to look for places with a strong focus on organic ingredients AND a veggie/meat-centric menu. After I have found a few restaurants, I give them a call. I ask the following questions: A. What Kind of Oils Do You Use? This is critical. If a restaurant has great ingredients that I can eat, but they cook absolutely everything in canola oil and there are no alternatives available, that is going to be a problem. If a restaurant has olive oil or coconut oil and can adjust the way they cook my food, then I have options. B. Can You Accommodating the Following Allergies? This may seem like a no-brainer, but not only does this question give you an idea if the restaurant will be willing to accommodate you, but in many cases, the staff will make a note so that when I do visit the restaurant, they are especially conscientious about preparing my dishes. In my Dallas restaurant guide, I talked about the fear of seeming high-maintenance and picky-- I realize asking for accommodations can be hard. But when you are dealing with an autoimmune disease, accommodations aren't about being picky-- it is the difference between feeling healthy and spending several days in bed crippled with pain. And no one wants to be on the sidelines during vacation!! 2. Grocery Stores and Markets Are Your Budget-Saving Best Friend If you've been AIP/Paleo for a while, you know it ain't cheap. And eating at accommodating restaurants is going to be way more costly than fast food or chain restaurants. This can be a budget buster! Eating out every single meal on vacation?! Eeek! Before you get to your destination, determine where the local supermarkets and outdoor markets are. Open air markets can be an amazing source of AIP-friendly, one ingredient goodness for a light breakfast or lunch. Are you in Latin America? Plantain chips, yuca fries, and dried mango? Yes, please. In Europe? Shaved meats, dried fruits, fresh seafood. Enough said. If you are in the US, eating at a Whole Foods or buying stuff at a supermarket is relatively safe. But if you are in another country, make sure you are using judgement in selecting what you eat from a market. If you are buying fresh produce, in many countries, you can also purchase a veggie wash. Make sure you use the wash with purified water back at your hotel room. In my next post, "Post Travel Tips with AIP," I'll go over supplements you can take to support gut health and protect yourself from parasites while you are abroad and once you return home. But be preventative in using caution when you select food from markets.
--fresh open air market in Mexico City
3. Keep an Emergency Stash Ok, it isn't really an "emergency" stash-- more like a "I love snacks" stash, if I'm honest. Thankfully, there are a plethora of AIP safe, travel-ready snack options. While you've carefully strategized your nice meals out, subsidized your breakfasts and lunches with grocery store buys, what happens if you get stuck in a place where there are no AIP options? Your flight gets delayed for seven hours at a crappy one terminal airport and the only restaurant available is a McDonalds (Dear God, I hope no such place exists). Packing options will keep you on track! Below is a list of my favorite AIP, travel-ready snacks: 1. Dang Toasted Coconut Chips 2. Plantain Chips 3. Dried Mango/Fruit 4. Epic bars 5. Canned Oysters 6. Crisp Apple chips 7. Barnanas
4. Learn the Language
Ok, the heading is a bit of an overstatement, but here's what I mean: if you are traveling to a country where English is not the primary language spoken, do you know the words for corn, soy, grains, and dairy? I'm not completely fluent in Spanish, but I know enough to explain all my allergies and concerns to a waiter. If you are traveling abroad and worried about communicating your food restrictions, plan ahead. If you have a basic grasp of the language, use this as an opportunity to learn and study more, specifically food-related words! If the thought of trying to communicate in a second language stresses you out and you are terrified you will make a mistake that will accidentally result in you getting poisoned by gluten, don't worry!! This website, Select Wisely, is here to take the guess work out of ordering-- for both you and your waiter. These cards explain food allergies-- plus you can order a standard card OR you can customize a card for your specific food restrictions. And best of all, these cards can be translated to over 60 languages! If the thought of trying to explain in German which nightshades you can and cannot eat gives you anxiety, this little card can be a lifesaver! That about wraps up it up, friends. Up next, tips for returning from traveling and protecting your gut while abroad and another city guide for where to eat AIP/Paleo while visiting...any guesses?
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