how to live with dietary restrictions

i’m bAAAaaack! after a bit of a hiatus i’m firing up the old blog. i recently started a new job and went back to school. the ensuing craziness has inspired me to figure out how to eat on the go, or- even harder- on the run.

let’s start with the planning- write out your menu, preferably a week ahead. first, think about nutrition and major food groups. make sure you include protein in order to avoid fatigue as well as a headache. then figure out what beverage(s) to bring. next, consider what kind of packaging would be the most convenient. any job offers at least one break but not necessarily access to a kitchen. many schools do have a microwave but don’t allow food in the classroom. in this case you’ll need to bring several different items, one for each break.

finally, choose at least one ingredient that can serve double duty. for example, hummus makes a great dip for chips and/or raw veggies but it also tastes great on a veggie burger. additionally, it can be spread on a tortilla. tortillas are perfect for wrapping up scrambled eggs or veggies or fruit with cream cheese and can obviously be made into a taco. tortillas can also be smeared with some kind of nut/seed butter- even chocolate macadamia nut spread. sometimes i sprinkle a bit of cocoa powder over sweetened nut/seed butter.

now it’s time to go grocery shopping. (do not attempt this before figuring out exactly what you need.) for each item on the list think about the quantity you’ll need. is the food perishable… at all? if so, will you eat it all before it goes bad? if you’ve got a family or roommates this shouldn’t be a problem but when you’re buying for just yourself you don’t want too much left over; how many days in a row can you stand eating it? also, if you buy a large container you’ll need to prepare smaller portions in sandwich bags or plastic food saver containers. often it’s easiest to keep a small package in the car. for instance, i buy small tins of seasoned almonds, which are just the right size to fit in my cup holder.

when choosing a beverage it might be helpful to include a bottle of juice or a smoothie- sometimes you have to drink your nutrients. no matter what, water is a must. fill a reusable container, such as an exercise/hiking water bottle or simply bring bottled water and refill the container.