Nutrition Tips During Travel

As you all know, competing in collegiate athletics requires a lot of traveling and eating away from home, but just because you are on the road does not mean that your nutrition has to take a backseat. Keeping proper nutrition habits and making good choices while on the road is important for both your recovery and performance during competition. Here are some tips to help make proper nutrition easy to follow:

           Bring healthy snacks with you: Bringing snacks that provide you with good, quality sources of carbohydrates and protein is a good way to speed up recovery and keep your body fueled. Look for these snack ideas when travelling:

·         Granola bars

·         Oatmeal bars

·         Nuts

·         Trail mix

·         Beef Jerky

·         Whole grain crackers

·         Fresh veggies (carrots, celery, etc.)

·         Fruit (apples, bananas, etc.)

·         Peanut butter

      Make good food choices wherever you are staying: Hotels often offer continental breakfast so make sure to choose foods such as fresh fruits, fat free yogurt, oatmeal, whole wheat bagels, peanut butter, low fat milk, and whole grain cereals and shy away from pastries.

            Make healthy choices when eating at restaurants or gas stations: They’re many different types of restaurants to eat at during travel and making good food choices when ordering is key. Look for options such as grilled chicken sandwiches or grilled chicken salad, look for fish entrees such as salmon, add vegetables as your side instead of sides like French fries, and watch out for high fat condiments or dressings.

      Gas stations are notorious for having a lot of unhealthy snacks so make sure to pay attention to food labels and look for foods that have high fiber, high protein, or both.  Look for foods such as fresh fruit, low fat dairy, trail mix or nuts, granola bars, whole wheat crackers, or beef jerky instead of chips, cookies, or candy.

Following these tips will make healthy eating and making good food choices a breeze during travel and will make sure you are prepared to dominate your competition.