Traveling, traveling, traveling, traveling, traveling, traveling, traveling, traveling…Damn I love to travel. I am that one SOB goofball who does not mind the TSA at the airport, or flight delays, or “From this point it will be 90 minute wait to board this ride” line. It not that I’m a sadist (or masochist – I can never get those two terms straight in my head) but I really enjoy 1) people watching & 2) knowing that in a couple of hours I will be in a totally different environment to watch some more people.

As weird as this may sound, I am particularly interested in what a person eats. It not to throw judgement or anything like that. I’m just curious why a person choose that particular food item. Why does someone choose a hamburger over a chicken sandwich? Why a baked potato over fries? Why a salad over soup!?! Is it because of the mood they are in or do they have a dietary restriction either self or medically imposed? Did they want something else but either the restaurant was out of it or maybe they couldn’t afford it. You start playing this game in your head and the time just flies…

Now that I’ve gone sugar-less, traveling has become more of a challenge in the food department. Have you ever tried to get carrot sticks past the TSA? I recommend you don’t try it. Road trips can be a little bit better with some planning but anything that needs refrigeration can be a hit or miss.

Here are some tips that have worked for me while traveling sans-sugar (however, I strongly believe you are free to eat whatever you want whenever you want without any judgement by others or yourself. You are the Captain of your ship):

1. Snacks are grand! Depending on how many days/weeks/years you are going to be gone and where you are going to, have a plan for snacks. Feel free to bring your own (the TSA has a site on what food you can bring through the security line here) . If you can’t bring your own, a number of packaged snack foods are low/no added sugar and are widely available. Some of my favorites are jerky (Beef, turkey, chicken, gator – not BBQ or Teriyaki), seeds, nuts, string cheese, plain potato chips and, of course, whole fruits and veggies.
2. When in Doubt – ASK! One of the greatest pleasures of travel is trying the local cuisine. The different flavors, spices, ingredients can just light your toes on fire! Even if it is in your local neighborhood, never feel like you can not ask questions about the food you are going to eat. I have no trouble asking the server “I’m trying to stay away from added sugars – is there a dish you or your chef can recommend?”. Not once has anyone given me “stink face” on this request.

3. 

   3. Give Yourself a Break! There should be no morality around food. You should never feel guilty for eating anything – EVER! Eating keeps you alive. Eating gives you the basic fuel to keep doing what you are doing. What food you eat is up to you. Not the government, not your mom, not the raven haired woman sitting across the airport waiting lounge wondering why you choose an apple instead of a banana – YOU! You know what you like, you know what happens to you after you eat certain foods, you know what you are in the mood for, you know what resources you have available to you to get the food to nourish you. If you feel like having the rolled ice cream at 10 Below in NYC – have it! If not – don’t! But whatever you do, do not think you are a bad person for it.

    

   Go out there and enjoy the world the way you want! With or without sugar – the world is still your oyster.