How To Eat Healthy Anywhere (Even A Gas Station)

Here are five ways I plan and improvise so I always eat healthy in even the least ideal environments.

If I'm driving, I'll take healthy staples like almond butter, nut milk, coconut oil, wild-canned fish, olive oil, nuts and seeds, and other nonperishable items. If I'm flying, I make room these items in my bags. Apples, berries, pomegranate, avocados, and lemons also fare well on the road. If I want something sweet, I'll carry a 70 percent raw, organic dark chocolate bar.

I find these as soon as I arrive. I make a shopping list before I hit the grocery store so I don't wander the aisles aimlessly and subsequently impulse-buy junk food. I stick to the store's periphery, or more specifically, the produce section. After all, whole, fresh foods are stocked on the outside, not inside, shelves. If I buy beef or meat, I choose grass-fed, hormone-free, or organic whenever possible.

If I can't travel with these, I pick them up once I've arrived at my destination. Mine include extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, nuts and seeds, nut milks, coconut milk, olives, apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar, sea salt, black pepper, and any other spices I need.

Traveling often means eating out, but you don't need to abandon healthy eating just because you're at a restaurant. I'll research my options ahead of time and take mental notes of a few ideal choices. I look for restaurants with choices like grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, and organic produce. Restaurants usually have side dishes like steamed veggies or sweet potatoes. Likewise, almost any restaurant can make a grilled fish or chicken dish with a large plate of vegetables steamed or sautéed in healthy oils.

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