We recently went on a little family weekend to Ottawa and man, is it hard to eat well on the road! With two young teens hungry at every turn I am reminded how important it is to plan ahead. It’s not such a huge deal when you are only travelling once in a while but if you are constantly on the go you know what stress is put on the body just driving, flying and sleeping in an unfamiliar bed can be. 

Here are a few tips and tricks that ease the blow:

1. Find a decent grocery store or corner store the moment you get there and purchase mixed greens, low fat salad dressing, skim milk, orange juice, natural peanut butter, low fat feta cheese and unsalted nuts, whole grain (low sodium) crackers and some fresh fruit (make sure you get a lemon).

2. Start the day with breakfast of fruit, nuts and crackers will help you avoid the crappy coffee and pastries available at every turn.

3. Bookend your day with the hugest salad with feta cheese and lemon juice. This way, no matter what sins you committed throughout the day; at least you had a salad. My kids prefer to eat leaf by leaf, dip in the dressing and have the cheese on the side.

4. Have only fish in restaurants, not deep fried! Skip the rice and potatoes, they are almost always white and ask for extra steamed veg. Set the rule that the kids cannot eat anything deep fried, period.  It will force them to look a little harder at the menu for something they like.

5. Say no to the bread basket. It is not your friend and if it is sitting right in front of the family, they will fill up on it, guaranteed.

6. Keep crackers and Salba bars in your purse or briefcase instead of trying to resist every Timbit beg when you stop in for coffee.

7. Make everyone drink water like crazy, dehydration stresses the body and sends the message of fatigue, most of us respond with carbohydrates, and not the good ones. Two full glasses before you leave the room and two when you return.  I let the kids put lemon in theirs or go half and half with the oj.

8. Get back on track, the minute you get back on home turf. Control what you can, when you can and when you can’t, well…