7 Simple Foods for Nourished Traveling
Simple and nutrient dense foods to fuel adventures and stave off fast food temptations
When it comes to choosing foods to travel with, there are several factors to consider. You’re not going to have access to your home kitchen and equipment and can’t always anticipate what you will have access to, so you want foods that either do not require any cooking, or have very basic requirements that you can travel with (like a skillet or a boiling pot). You want your meals to be as simple as possible, as traveling (road trips in particular) entails long days that you probably won’t want to cook at the end of. You’ll also probably have limited cooler space, so you want to prioritize what needs to be in the cooler and bring plenty of foods that are shelf stable. And as always (but perhaps especially while traveling, given its potential to be depleting), you want to eat foods that are nutrient dense. In this post, I’ll share my favorite foods to bring with me while traveling. Those fast food restaurants won’t look nearly as tempting when you’re filled up on convenient and nourishing food!
Raw milk
Raw milk is one of my favorite nutrient dense foods, boasting a balanced macronutrient profile, a wealth of micronutrients, and gut-healthy microbes and enzymes. On top of all of that, it’s hydrating (you know how dehydrated you can get while traveling!). When I’m on the road, I like to keep some raw milk in a cooler and fill up my big travel mug periodically to keep myself satiated, nourished, and hydrated. There’s nothing easier!
Kettle & Fire soups and broths
At the end of a long day traveling or exploring, you’re probably just going to want a hot and delicious meal. But you don’t want to hit up a restaurant (and all the questionable ingredients that come with that), and you don’t want to go buy a bunch of ingredients to cook with and figure out how to cook a meal in your transient situation. What to do? I brought a box with an assortment of Kettle & Fire’s bone broth based soups on our recent road trip, and found myself absolutely delighted. Their flavors are fabulous, and their ingredient sourcing is excellent: No harmful additives, all organic, and they support natural farming practices (bones from grass fed animals!). The cost of a box of soup is comparable to the cost of eating out, but it nourishes your body far better than fast food could. (And if you use my affiliate code LISAC, you can get it for 20% off!). To heat it up while traveling, I brought a saucepan and a mini camp stove. Many Airbnb’s offer some form of kitchen access, so this option is quite accessible!
Sausages
Another food I found very helpful while away from home is sausages. Grass fed beef hot dogs, kielbasa, chicken sausages, you name it— they provide variety and flavor, keep you feeling satisfied, store easily in the cooler, and can be eaten cooked or not. Like the prepared soups, they don’t take much to cook— just a pot or pan and heat. I also love cured sausages like grass fed beef summer sausages and beef sticks, especially for on-the-road lunches.
Cheese
Do I even need to elaborate on this? Cheese packs a nourishing punch of satisfying protein and fat, and a wealth of micronutrients like minerals and fat soluble vitamins. Just store it in a sealable bag in the cooler, and slice and eat.
Canned seafood
This option won’t be for everyone, and that’s okay. But canned seafood like sardines, oysters, and smoked herring (Kipper Snacks) makes for an economical protein source that is extraordinarily nutrient dense. You won’t want to eat them in the car, but they’re great for eating at rest stops or at camp!
Eggs
I bring two egg options while traveling: Unwashed raw eggs, and hard boiled eggs. Unwashed fresh eggs do not need to be refrigerated, as they still have the naturally occurring antimicrobial “bloom” covering and protecting the shell. This way, they don’t have to take up any room in the cooler. Since I bring my skillet and mini stove, frying up a couple eggs in the morning is easy. I also like bringing some hard boiled and peeled eggs in a sealed box or bag for easy travel snacks (these you’ll want to keep in the cooler).
Fresh fruits and vegetables
After all of that emphasis on protein and fat sources, let’s turn our attention to fresh plant foods! Fresh fruits and vegetables supply us with carbohydrates (energy!) as well as fiber, minerals, vitamins, hydration, and antioxidants. These are all vital in supporting our bodies through the stress of traveling and adapting to new environments. I like to bring a box of seasonal fruits and vegetables that can keep well for the amount of time we’ll be away (melons, peppers, cherries, apples, carrots, and such), as well as to keep an eye open for fruit stands and good deals along the way.
What are your favorite travel foods? Share in the comments below so we can all enjoy each other’s ideas!
Want to learn more? I shared some other nutritious travel tips in last year’s road trip-inspired blog article:
Nourished on the road
Eating a wholesome, nutrient dense diet can sometimes be a feat in itself, as for most people it requires the learning of new habits, routines, and thought patterns. Preparation and sourcing are considered carefully to keep the kitchen stocked with the best ingredients nature has to offer. A repertoire of skills is accumulated to bring the kitchen into …