A friend of mine made a great comment about the complications of the philosophy I follow regarding eating primarily Paleolithic foods (naturally raised meat, fruits and vegetables) and traveling. He challenged me, “Okay pal…try and find moose, bison and your other game meat at the airport, or traveling 2 week out of each month all over the country on a break-neck schedule”. Excellent point! Okay, let’s break it down. This next bit of advice applies to all situations where you are out of your normal element. You will likely have access to lots of different restaurants or at least places to buy basic groceries. If you apply these general rules you will be fine:
- Ever hear that old adage “order the fish”? Well, it applies here. Use your list of currently “caught wild” fish or call it up on the internet from wherever you are and try and eat those types which are managed responsibly.
- Eat as much of the less popular and not so “mass farmed” meats as you can. Order the goat or the lamb. If they are imported that is especially good, like lamb from New Zealand. Generally, these meats are less subject to the awful agro-industrial production process simply because they are less popular. Take advantage of this fact and eat a healthier meat.
- EAT LOW ON THE FOOD CHAIN – nuts, fruit, raw or cooked vegetables, big salads with as many Paleolithic ingredients as possible. Eat fresh or dried fruit. If you can get hold of healthy animal meat try and take it with you for later. Beef jerky and other types of dried meat are great for this purpose.
- If you are in a hotel, find the closest grocery store and get some fruit, vegetables, canned fish like tuna or crab and all of the other stuff that is part of an evolutionary diet (just remember to buy a can opener). Keep a few days worth in the hotel room. This is easy and will keep you right out of trouble. It beats the vending machines, room service or ordering pizza.
- Use your head and plan a couple of hours ahead. If you are going to be on a plane for 4 hours then buy some fruit and nuts or almonds in the airport. Get a salad to go from one of the restaurants so you don’t have to eat the muffins or other processed crap they may give you on the plane. Of course, taking the best food from your home with you in sufficient quantity is your most sensible, inexpensive course of action.
Remember, food is everywhere. Unless you are accidentally locked up in a Burger King one night, you can apply this dietary philosophy readily. If you apply these simple ideas along with all of the other basic tenets of a Paleolithic diet you will be fine. When stuck in an airport or fast food restaurant please, eat low on the food chain: fruit, vegetables, salads or nuts.
Just avoid the stuff that they can really process and screw up – any type of processed burger, chicken or meat. Also, stay completely away from any processed dairy and grains. Finally, if you have one or two meals out of convenience or necessity that compromise your natural diet, who cares! Eat the pizza that your business partner ordered in your hotel room after the meeting at 11:00 pm. It just won’t matter. You will likely feel lousy afterward but the odd indiscretion simply won’t register in terms of ill health or your physical appearance. You’ll be doing great, don’t let it bother you.