A week ago I happily found myself overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. After a long journey, we had finally arrived in Ocean City, Maryland. As we cruised the strip passing candy stores on every block, neon flashing signs advertising all you can eat this and that, I knew I was in for a challenge. Was I going to be able to live the Conscious Cleanse way with all of the temptations constantly starring me in the face? Or would the bottomless basket of french fries (my weakness) and signs for “buy 2 pounds get 1 pound of fudge for free” win out?
One of the fundamental principals of success in the Conscious Cleanse, and living a healthful life in general, is simply – preparation! What follows are some suggestions, actual real life tips from my travels, and must haves for how to live the Conscious Cleanse way away from the comfort of your own home.
The first few things to do before leaving for your trip is to locate (google works great) the nearest health food store and pack some good food for traveling.
I made sure to pack Stevia (I love the Body Ecology Stevia) for tea and smoothies, a handful of Lara Bars (I generally refer to these types of bars as “healthy junk food” but when you are in the airport surrounded by candy and fast food, these make an excellent alternative!) and my own home made trail mix (see recipe below). I used to buy the stuff at the airport before I realized it was filled with preservatives and sugar. And I don’t know if this happens to you, but it gives me wicked gas, bloating and stomach cramps. Not a good thing for anyone, anytime, but especially not on an airplane!
Another thing to pack, especially if there isn’t a blender where you’re going, is to consider buying the NutriBullet by Magic Bullet available at Target for $99. I haven’t used one of these but if it’s good enough for David Wolfe, I am sure it’s a worthy investment. You can see David comparing the NutriBullet to a regular blender here. I have been using a late 1970s blender here at the beach and while I’m not complaining (because any green smoothie is better than no green smoothie) I will be purchasing a NutriBullet for my next trip!
Once you arrive at your final destination, you’ll want to make the health food store one of your first stops. Pick up a few things that you might not likely find in a regular grocery store – things like raw almond butter, Himalayan Crystal Salt, chia seeds, hemp seeds, organic almond milk and some organic fresh fruits and vegetables. I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent organic foods section at the regular grocery store here. The bigger issue was finding organic fruits and veggies. When I couldn’t find my usual organic kale and spinach, apples and cucumbers, I had a mini panic attack (I know, I’m spoiled). Then I started looking for what organic produce was available and shopped based on their selection versus from my list. Simple, easy, done.
Now, while I can’t say that I haven’t touched a french fry in the two weeks I’ve been here (thank you 80/20!), I have greatly minimized the impact that too often travel can have on our health. With a little preparation, a plan and a commitment to feeling good there is no reason not to thrive, especially when traveling.
With love and green veggies,
Quick and Easy Homemade Trail Mix
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cashews, raw and unsalted
- ½ cup walnuts, raw and unsalted
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds, raw and unsalted
- ½ cup sunflower seeds, raw and unsalted
- 2 TB. raisins
- 1 TB. goji berries
- 1 TB. raw cacao nibs (optional)
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large plastic zip lock baggie. Seal and shake to combine well. Take 1/2 cup with you on the plane in a smaller zip lock and pack the rest for your stay.
*Variation – Feel free to use any combination of raw nuts or seeds that you have on hand. You can also substitute raisins for chopped up apricots. Just be sure to go easy on the dried fruit and cacao (if using).
