Hello hello and TGIF 
Sorry for the lack of post yesterday. I was en route from Denver to Cali when I usually would have created my blog post. Oh and speaking of Denver, can I just tell you that I think it’s Bi-polar? Yeah, it is. It was 85 and a wee bit humid on Monday and by Wednesday it was 36 degrees and snowing. It was so bleepin’ cold, I could barely stand up straight. Yes I did look at the weather forecast and it said Wednesday would be 58 and rainy, which I — and my clothing — could handle. 20 degrees under that, no way! And despite getting bumped up to First class, I was still a cranky mess.
If you’re a regular reader, you know that I tend to travel a good amount for both work and play. I head to Denver for a week at a time at least every 3-4 weeks. And for a highly routine-oriented girl like myself, it can be difficult to stick to the same healthy habits when I’m away.
I want to share with you my tips for living a healthy lifestyle while on work travel. I am specifically not talking vacations because, I think that’s a whole set of (much more relaxed) rules 
- Don’t abuse your per diem. My company provides a hefty per diem of about $61 per day for food. I don’t eat $61 in two weeks in most cases. Just because the money is “available” does not mean you have to capitalize. Besides, no need to “stick it to the man” and get all extravagant with eating out if that’s not your normal lifestyle.
- Pick a hotel that serves a complimentary breakfast. My biggest pet peeve is having to pay for a meager breakfast of toast/oatmeal and a coffee. It makes me feel like I need to “load up” to get my money’s worth. When the breakfast is free, I tend to take it to go (since I don’t eat first thing in the AM anyway). Most places will have a yogurt, fresh fruit (banana), and granola. I even bring my own plastic baggies from home so I’m prepared to package up my stuff.
- Put some thought into your dinners. Just because Red Robin, CPK, and Cheesecake Factory are all within walking distance does not mean they should be your nightly choice, providing you normally prefer to cook/eat in. If you do go, check their menus online for their healthier options. Otherwise, make use of grocery stores to pick up a salad, soup, or even a Kashi frozen meal. If you go out with a group to a bar type setting, beware of loading up on apps and simply order your entrée immediately. I did this on Monday: instead of gorging on Nachos, TexMex eggrolls, and fries, I ordered a black bean burger with a side salad to better portion size.
- Hand in hand with the above is to pick a hotel with a kitchenette. This way you are able to pick up and store healthy snacks too, including carrots and hummus, Ocean Spray light blueberry grape juice (so good!), etc.
- Bring your gym shoes. 99% of the hotels out there have a gym. Yeah they may be sort of pathetic, but usually they have a treadmill and you can get in a HIIT or a nice incline walk while watching tv.
- Plan for snacks. At my office in Cali, I keep a drawer stocked with granola bars, oatmeal, almonds, tea, etc for when hunger strikes. When I’m on travel, the closest thing is often the vending machine. When I pack for my trips, I pack a snack, or two, for every day. And if I happen to forget, I head to the nearest Target and pick up a box of granola bars or something similar. It’s cheaper and healthier than those vending machines!
Love Grown granola
- Load up on your greens. I pack my lunch every day when at home. Most often this includes some sort of cabbage or broccoli slaw salad with chickpeas, veggies, and a light dressing. Don’t stop the habit just because you’re on work travel. Avoid the lines at the cafeteria for the pizza of the day, etc and mosey to the salad bar and fill ’er up. I do this daily and it keeps me full for a good few hours.
Cafeteria salad with chickpeas and sunflower seeds and veggies
What are your “stay healthy” tips for when you go on travel?
Where are you traveling to next (work or fun)?
