Many of you know that I was on a two-week trip out West with my business partner Adam for a teaching tour of our workshop Demos for Dietitians. We have developed a program for dietitians and health professionals that teach nutrition to help them plan and implement fun, successful cooking programs! We worked long days but had a lot of fun and LOVED meeting inspiring nutrition professionals from around the country.
Some days weren’t as fun as others when I found it tricky to find the right food for my body. Whether you have IBS, food intolerances, or just simply want to put real, good food in your body, being away from home can be difficult! I shared some of my best travel strategies from this very trip in this post ova’ here!
I wanted to share with you some basic IBS staples I think you should always travel with. You can stop at a market or grocery store when you get into town or pack things from home – things like wheat-free/gluten-free instant oatmeal packs, bags of roasted nuts, gluten free crackers, fresh fruit, and digestive tea can seriously make a world of difference to get you the energy you need for an easy breakfast and snacks in between meals.
I would highly recommend packing a good quality digestive tea to bring along with you. Whether you’re out for a night, a weekend, or a month, this can make a huge difference in they way your tummy feels after a meal.
What I find REALLY interesting is that two of the most popular ingredients for digestive tea blends are high in FODMAPs! Many people find chamomile and fennel soothing to the gut, and many of my clients find that herbal teas are not irritating, especially these digestive blends. So even though you find these teas on the high FODMAP lists, I would encourage you to try them to relieve digestive distress. Know your body – everyone is different, so be aware of the potential affects and monitor how you feel after a cup!
Unfortunately one of my favourite digestive teas (the one pictured above) is no longer available, but you can find a recipe for a homemade Low FODMAP tea in this post.
I meet many people who are nervous to travel away from their home for the weekend or longer because of the unknown. They aren’t sure where they are going to eat or where there are bathrooms along the way in case they get into trouble. Part of this feeling can be a built up sense of anxiety surrounding travel. It is my goal to help reduce this digestive suffering and help people return to a normal life where travel can be a fun part of it… and not feared.
Don’t miss out on how much fun you can have with family and friends when you travel. Pack well, don’t stress and you’ll have a great time. And if you’re heading to a patio, stick to no more than two cocktails, enjoy yourself, and don’t forget a bag of that digestive tea my friend 😉
Much love & good eating,
Stephanie