Vacation Snack Ideas

Spring has sprung, the weather is beautiful, and before we know it the dog days of summer will be upon us! Ok, so maybe I won’t be lying around all summer long like my little dachshund, but I certainly plan on having some fun and relaxing during the warmer months. Dave and I both love travelling, which has turned out to be a great thing since we have immediate family members in six different states. Needless to say, we will be taking several trips this summer to relax, take in some new experiences, and enjoy time with family.

While vacations are something I generally look forward to with excitement, I usually have some concern when thinking about what I will eat. Since it is vacation, I tend to splurge and eat things I normally wouldn’t, which, to some degree, is totally fine in my opinion! I also don’t expect to eat the same quality of food that I eat at home (i.e. grass-fed beef and organic produce). However, I still want to take care of my body and certainly don’t want to eat a ton of gluten or sugar and make myself sick. As far as eating meals at restaurants are concerned, I’ve got a pretty good handle on what’s the best option, and I can find something to eat at just about any establishment. Here’s what I usually order:

Mexican – fajitas minus the tortillas
Pub/sports bar – cheeseburger (no bun), side salad
Café – Cobb/chopped salad
Asian – sushi/sashimi (one of the rare instances when my “no grain” rule goes out the window!)
Italian – Chicken Marsala, sub extra veggies for pasta
Fine dining – grilled salmon with steamed veggies

For me, the problem comes in when I don’t necessarily want a full meal, but I need to eat something. I tend to only eat two full meals a day and either fast unintentionally (meaning I’m not hungry so I don’t eat) or I nibble on a couple small snacks in between meals. Dave does the same thing so we always keep easy sources of protein on hand at home. Unfortunately, it’s pretty difficult to find a filling gluten-free, protein-rich snack in the vending machine at the airport or on the appetizer menu of most restaurants. This is where the importance of planning ahead comes in! Here are my favorite snacks to keep on hand when travelling:

Jerky – It’s hard to find good quality jerky without spending a fortune. We like to make our own when we can. Marinated strip steak dehydrated for several hours is our favorite (be sure to use plenty of salt as it’s necessary to preserve the dried meat).

Nuts – As I’ve mentioned before, soak raw nuts in saltwater for around 8 hours to make them more easily digestible and increase nutrient absorption. After soaking, dry in the dehydrator or oven until crisp.

Trail Mix – Make your own grain-free granola-like trail mix with this recipe from Mark’s Daily Apple

Lara Bars – These are great! They are made with a date/nut base and are flavored using dried fruits, veggies, and sometimes chocolate. Lara bars are a wonderful grain-free alternative to granola bars and don’t contain artificial stuff or preservatives.

Sweet Potato, Root Veggie, or Kale Chips – When I travel I know that I’m inevitably going to get a craving for something salty and, well, just plain bad. For these times, I like to bring along some gluten-free veggie chips. There are some pretty decent brands around and while they may contain vegetable oil and/or corn, I figure this is a much better option than a huge plate of nachos or French fries.

Dark Chocolate – Just as I sometimes get cravings for salty foods, I crave sweets at times too! That’s why I like to bring a couple good quality dark chocolate bars with me on vacation. If I have it with me then I won’t be as tempted to eat a huge piece of cheesecake or an ice cream sundae!

Hope these tips help on your vacations too!