Let's face it, anyone on a strict
candida diet will probably agree—it's hard, especially if you have
a family to cook for who can eat all sorts of carb-laden and sugary
delicacies (think toast and jam, crackers and cheese, chips, granola,
ice cream...you get the idea).
But throw in the added challenge of
traveling and not being able to cook the food you need—well, it can
be very daunting and discouraging. It's hard to make a stop at a
fast-food place or restaurant and discover that there's little or
nothing you can eat. And this can happen three times a day!
While a candida diet is admittedly very
healthy, akin to the paleo diet, it's also spartan and requires no
cheating if it's going to work to rid your body of the overgrowth of
yeast.
So what can you do on a trip?
Key word: PREPARE!
If you're flying, of course your
options are quite limited. See the points under “Eating out”
below.
If you're on a road trip, it can be
easier since you're able to pack food and possibly even prepare more
at a motel or host's house.
Portable food
Since the “stage 1”* candida diet
is mostly meats, eggs, and green vegetables, you'll need to fix
portable food. Stages 2 and 3 allow for more variety. You can prepare:
- hard-boiled eggs
- steak strips, chicken fingers, meatballs, meatloaf, cold cooked shrimp
- homemade fish sticks (salmon or tuna)
- raw veggies: grape tomatoes, zucchini, celery, jicama, broccoli, and cauliflower (bring a sprinkle-herb mix)
- soaked and dried pumpkin and sunflower seeds
- raw nuts (if you can tolerate them)
- home-dried & sugar-free jerky
- egg salad, tuna or chicken salad made with homemade mayonnaise (great as a veggie dip or build on a bed of salad greens)
- dried seaweed packs
- sugar-free mints, gum, or other candy (limited)
- stevia-sweetened drink mix packets
*(see the Whole Approach website list of Stage 1, 2, & 3 acceptable foods)
Eating out
The secret to eating out successfully
is, again, preparation. Here are some tips I've learned:
- Get in the habit of carrying a small cooler with you. Keep not only perishable items you can eat in a restaurant, but also canned or dried things for the unexpected situation. I keep one in my car with the individual portion packets of sardines, tuna, salmon, chicken, canned or dried veggies, some sugar-free candies.
- If possible, check the menu selections at restaurants in your destination town or city. Many have them online.
- Request that a meat entree be prepared without the extra sauces, cheese, etc. Hamburger patties or chicken can usually be ordered. Most barbeque seasonings and sauces contain sugar.
- Fried or rotisserie chicken is often a good choice; you can easily remove any breading and skin on the outside.
- Ask if you can substitute extra vegetables or salad for the starchy side dishes like rice, potatoes, bread, etc.
- Request that your salad be prepared without dressing. Ask for lemon juice and oil.
- Sometimes I'll bring in an extra food item of my own if we're eating at a place I think will be too limited. I've been known to bring a single-serving can of green beans (with a pop-top lid) or my own mixed veggies.
- And of course, when everyone you're with orders a decadent dessert that you can't eat, it's good to have a treat of your own on hand. I like to have a sugar-free dark chocolate mint patty in my purse to stave off feelings of deprivation! M-m-m-m!
- Fast food choices: hamburger patty without the bun, avoid mayo and catsup as they are loaded with sugar, ask for extra lettuce and tomato; fried chicken & then remove the skin; main-dish type salads with chicken
Other
- Try to stay at hotels that have in-room refrigerators and microwaves. Refreeze ice packs and do any simple preparation for the next day.
- For a longer-term stay, get a hotel with a kitchenette. If you're driving, you can take along a few of your own essential food items. If you're flying, research ahead of time where health food stores are located in your destination area, then stock up when you get there.
- Make sure and always travel with plenty of purified water. Your system is in constant need of flushing out toxins while your body is dealing with candida.
- Don't forget to take along all medications and supplements you're taking, and make every effort to stay on a consistent program. The added stress of travel can distract you from a regular treatment schedule.
- And make every effort to get a good night's sleep! That's one of your body's chief immune-boosters.
With a little forethought and planning,
your travel doesn't have to be defined by food. You'll be free to
enjoy yourself and keep on the good path to health!