Clean Eating Foods That Travel Well

by The Gracious Pantry on June 2, 2010

Need a specific list of clean eating foods that travel well?

Clean eating and travel are not always the best of friends. But the good news is, I’ve done some of the hard work for you. On my last trip, I took careful notes and came up with a nice list of foods that traveled well. Some need refrigeration, some don’t. Call ahead to find out if you can get a fridge in your hotel room. Many hotels have them by request.

Here’s what I took with me:

FRUIT

Raspberries
Bananas
Strawberries – washed and de-stemmed
Kiwis – sliced
Grapes
Oranges
Apples

VEGGIES

Sugar snap peas
Baby carrots
Celery
Roasted veggies (brussels sprouts and zucchini)

PROTEIN

Protein bars (try these!)
Chicken breasts
Cheese sticks
Hard boiled eggs

CARBS

Whole wheat tortillas (or try these homemade quinoa tortillas)
Brown rice crackers
Whole wheat crackers
Pre-made oatmeal packs (quick oats, whey powder, nuts)

TREATS

DRINKS

Sparkling water – just be careful it doesn’t get to jumbled around
Sparkling juice (no sugar added)
Juice boxes (no sugar added) for the kiddos
Water, water and more water
1 jar of milk (for coffee and any munchkins along for the ride)

If you package these all in Ziploc bags or Tupperware they travel well. Then just get a cooler for the chicken, eggs, milk, cheese sticks and as much of the fruit as you can get in there.

Remember to request a refrigerator in your hotel room, or take 2 extra gallon sized Ziploc bags for ice.

Just plan to “snack” for your entire trip.

So there you have it! Please share any extra travel tips or food that travel well in a comment below.

And enjoy your trip!

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http://cleanteenkelsey.wordpress.com Kelsey @ CleanTeenKelsey

I’ve found that clean hummus is a HUGE help on the road. It makes any sandwich/wrap yummy, and it’s thick so it won’t get messy. I also like to bring protein powder and dry roasted edamame (found at Costco with the nuts) for quick, easy protein boosts.

Try to keep things as simple as possible; believe me, I’ve tried to make complicated meals on the road before and it only ends in disaster. You may have to repeat some meals, but it won’t kill you and you’ll save a lot of time.
Jodi

Since we have nut allergies in our family, I made up a “trail mix” of dried mixed berries, raisins, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. Oranges and apples also travel well; softer fruit need to be packed in containers to help prevent bruising. We have well water at home, but took along a brita filter in order to use tap water on the road-saved having to take along enough water for 5 people for 10 days. We had rooms with refrigerator/freezers so I washed the ice trays and filtered the water to make ice.
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Fantastic Jodi! Thanks for your input! Can I just travel with you next time? lol
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Edamame beans are terrific for a road trip! I’ll have to try the hummus next time. I forgot about it this time around! Thank for your input Kelsey!
Leigh

Great ideas. All these would work well for a lunch at work, too. So hard to resist the temptation of cafeteria/ready made food! Thanks.
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Leigh – I feel your pain. Cafeterias are LETHAL to a clean eating diet though. So steer clear!
Leigh

Yes! The only reason I go in is to get ice water. But people ask me to go to lunch every day and I feel like such a troll saying no *sigh*
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Don’t feel that way Leigh!!!

You should feel proud of yourself for taking such good care of your body. You are giving yourself a gift by choosing to eat real food. Avoiding the cafeteria is a wonderful gift you are giving yourself. NEVER feel “like a troll” for taking care of yourself. What other people do to their own bodies is their business. You take care of you… and feel good about it!!
Leigh

Ok, I’ll try =)
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

If you really feel bad about it, try taking a clean salad dressing to work with you and just go to the salad bar. At least you’ll be able to socialize with everyone, which is kind of the point you were trying to make I think.
Denise

I would like some portable vegan protein ideas for travelling. I know you mentioned edamame and hummus but any other ideas you have I would really appreciate.
Belinda

i have so enjoyed your post and comments. I know what Leigh means i have a friend who wants to cook me her brazilian food as a late birthday present and i dont want to be a nub by saying oh sorry cant eat that do you have a eating clean version. LOL i think we dont like to hurt peoples feelings but i am really enjoying this clean eating business hope it helps my family get in shape i just wish it would have been way before bathing suit weather : O
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Belinda – Ya, I know what you mean. I say no to a lot of people. It’s not easy. But you have to remember that you are standing up for your own health. Something that most folks are not used to doing these days.

That said, sometimes one cheat meal is totally acceptable. You have to be the judge of what’s right for you.

Keep up the good work!
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Denise – In your case, I would cut up a block of firm tofu into bite sized chunks. I don’t know a lot about being vegan, but I’m sure there is some sort of sauce or seasoning you could sprinkle on it.

Also, remember that beans and rice travel pretty well.

Not sure if those are exactly unique suggestions, but maybe somebody else here can suggest something?
Lori

This couldn’t have come at a better time. Just found out I’m going on a 16 hour drive in 2 weeks. Thank you for all the info you share.
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Lori – Ouch! 16 hours? Good luck! That’s a looooong drive! Be safe!
Leigh

One thing I like to do with tofu is cut very thin pieces off a firm block. Then soak them in tamari for about 15-30 minutes. Then I broil them for about 10 minutes, flipping them over half way through. I can’t remember where I got this idea, but it wasn’t here. I have taken those on short road trips and they are almost like a tofu jerky.
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Sounds yummy Leigh! Thanks for sharing that!
http://cleanteenkelsey.wordpress.com Kelsey @ CleanTeenKelsey

Hey Denise,

As a (mostly) vegan teenager that travels a lot, I’ve found the easiest forms of portable protein are protein powders, dry-roasted edamame, nuts, nut butters, hummus, pre-cooked beans (black, pinto, navy, etc.), pre-cooked lentils, nutritional yeast (a HUGE help), marinated tempeh, marinated tofu (not my preference since I don’t like tofu uncooked, but it may work for you), sprouts (lentils, peas, etc.) and my personal favorite, sprouted chickpeas. All you have to do is soak some uncooked chickpeas in water overnight, then drain and rinse them 2-3 times every few hours the next day. They fully sprout within a couple days, all though I’ve been known to eat them before they’re completely done.
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Kelsey –

Not to jump in on your convo here, but I’m fascinated with the chickpea sprouting thingy. That’s awesome! I’m gonna try that. Is it a complete protein, or do you have to have it with a whole grain to make it complete?
http://cleanteenkelsey.wordpress.com Kelsey @ CleanTeenKelsey

Hello!

Oh no, you have every right to! lol. It is your blog, after all. It really is great and I love sprouting them. It’s become my favorite way to eat chickpeas. You know, I just did some looking online and I’m not sure… chickpeas themselves have to be complemented with a whole grain to be complete, but I wonder if that changes after they’ve been sprouted. That would be a good thing to figure out somehow. I’ll do some research and get back to you.

Kelsey
Densie

Kelsey thanks for so many suggestions. I am going to be playing with some new protein powders as the one I ususally use is whey isolate but now that I am playing with “veganism” that doesn’t jive! Have you ever roasted the chickpeas with a little oil? I heard they taste really good as a snack but I am not sure how they would taste cold.
Densie

Oh, the sprouted chickpeas will NOT be a complete protein.
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Thanks Kelsey! Can’t wait to hear what you find out!
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Thanks Densie!

Can I ask what is not vegan about whey isolate? (Sorry. I’m sadly lacking in knowledge in this department, but I find it fascinating.)

Thanks!
Charlena

Excuse me, but I know the answer to that one.

Whey isolate is produced from (usually) bovine dairy, starting when fresh milk is separated into curds and whey. The whey is processed further in some “nutritional lab” into whey isolate (whey is “isolated” from the rest of the parts/ingredients in milk).

Since vegans don’t consume anything that comes from an animal or contains parts from an animal, of course, they do not drink milk or use anything containing or derived from milk.

I don’t have the high-powered gadget (like a VitaMix) to make my own, but having such a thing makes it easy to make your own soy milk or almond milk–really, it’s water (not “milk” at all) and raw/rehydrated soy beans or raw almonds liquefied in a blender. You can add whatever you want to it, though–cocoa powder and agave nectar, vanilla extract or let a whole vanilla bean pod soak in it, and any other spices you love. As a tea lover who misses Starbucks mocha chai soy lattes (have you read the nutrition labels on those ingredients??), I prefer chai spices with vanilla or cocoa and a little sweetener (agave nectar for vegans, but honey for vegatarians and omnivores). You can make your own soy/nut Mexican-style hot cocoa by heating up some of the soy/nut milk with sweetener, cocoa powder and cinnamon.

Green eatings!
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Charlena – Wow! Very informative! Thank you for taking the time to share what you know!
Paulissa

This is helpful. I am heading to Canada next summer and wondering to negotiate that whole thing. Can I take food on a flight that makes me go through customs, etc?
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Paulissa – Airlines have changed so much since I was last on one that I hate to give you the wrong information. I would call the airlines and explain that you have special dietary conditions that they cannot accommodate. See what they tell you. Hope that helps!
christine m.

Thank you for all the helpful tips for eating on the road. My husband is a truck driver and it is hard to figure out lunch ideas.
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Christine – You’re welcome! I can just imagine. Glad I could help!
trude wofford

thanks again for the info Tiffany. with summer just around the corner it seemed like a good time to check here for some inspiration. I just love your food and tips
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com The Gracious Pantry

Trude – Awwwe, thanks! Glad my info helped in some way!!
Dy-Anne

I bet you can’t take more then just a plane trips worth of fruit and veggies and you absolutely cannot take any liquids (at least if you are leaving from the US)
Call TSA to find out about going through security and they can prob tell you who to talk to about regulations for taking produce into another country.
Anonymous

Dy-Anne – I haven’t been on a plane in a while, but I bet you’re right. Good to call in advance!
Anonymous

cdnchick – Really? I thought they had cracked down on all of that in a big way?