(Trying to) Eat Paleo while traveling

Yesterday was a much better day for me.  What little headache I had in the morning was gone by the time we left the hotel for day.  Hubby and I had a great day seeing the sights and just hanging out.

I enjoy traveling, though going to new places is a bit stressful.  Being in a strange place, figuring out how to get to places, and of course, finding places to eat.  The one thing both Hubby and I like to do is try local restaurants.  We go to places that we don't have in our hometown.

Combine that with the fact my Hubby likes try the local microbrews, and we end up eating a lot of meals at breweries, pubs, and local sport bars so he can sample the brew.  I don't mind because some of the breweries have menus unique to them and have some interesting new foods to try.

I was a little worried about attempting to eat Paleo on this trip.  Hubby and I go out to eat once or twice a week at home and I usually have pretty much the same thing, but I when we're traveling I like to try a few new things.  Trying new things and keeping it Paleo brings up some challenges, but it can be done.

• Read the menu...carefully!  I am guilty of skimming over the menu and picking the first thing that sounds good.  Hubby has always been good at this and would often roll his eyes at me when I would get my food and see it had something I don't like or had an ingredient I hadn't been expecting.  This trip I have carefully read the description of each item, and discussed the items with Hubby.  So no surprises!
• Ask questions!  This is the hardest for me to do.  I feel like I'm bugging or nagging the waitstaff, so I hate to do this.  But for those of you that feel like I do, I have good news, it gets easier as you do it.  Yesterday at lunch I asked questions about the several of  items that I as interested in and the staff happily answered my questions.  I've also found that by asking questions the staff gets a feel for what you like and will make recommendations.  
• Ask for changes and substitutions!  When ordering, remember the saying, "It never hurts to ask."  I start my order my by saying, "Would it be okay to..."  Most of the time they are happy to do it.  Yes, there are times they can't, but it didn't hurt to ask!
• Have a plan B!  Because there are times they can't comply with your request, have a second choice in mind.  
• Eat until you are satisfied!  Yes, it is okay to leave food on your plate.  *GASP*  Yes, you heard me, leave perfectly good (and sometime expensive) food on your plate.  If you are starting to feel full, you have eaten to much.  When you get to this point, take your napkin and place it over the plate, and move the plate aside.  Out of sight, out of mind.  Do I do this?  I would love to say I do this a lot, but I would be lying.  This is one that I still need to work on.  Luckily, Hubby has picked up on my "I'm getting full" cues and reminds me I don't have to finish my meal.  If you can, take the leftovers with you.  If not, just remind yourself there is no difference between eating the food because it's there or having it thrown away.  Either way, it's gone.  
• Don't overindulge just because you're on vacation!  Oh my, this is another hard one for me.  I tend to go into vacation mode the day before we leave and start eating sweets, treats, and big meal.  Then continue that throughout the trip and for a day or two after we get back.  This trip I'm reminding myself that I can have the occasional indulgence, but I don't need to spend the whole trip eating.  It's about the places we visit and the people are with that matter.  Yes, good food is part of it, but a small part.  Food is to fuel my body, not the reason we are on the trip.

So, how did I do yesterday with all these little tips.  I feel I did really well.  Probably should have left a little food on my plate last night, but in my defense I did put part of my meal on my Hubby's plate so I wouldn't eat all of it just because it was there.

And I did indulge.  But I also did something I have never done in my life.  While my Hubby may love microbrews, I am not a beer person.  I like food.  I like treat.  I like ice cream.  Hubby wanted to go a tap room, next door to the tap room was a Stone Cold Creamery.  I started with the internal dialogue and as Hubby pointed out, I could still indulge occasionally and if I wanted ice cream, I should get some.  Keeping in mind that I haven't had any real sugary treats in nearly four weeks, I went for the smallest dish of ice cream (which was still a lot).  I got the ice cream, took it back to the tap room and savored the flavor, the texture... the sugar!  And about half way through the small cup of ice cream I realized I was satisfied.  I had my treat.  I still felt good.  And then I did it.  Something I would never have dreamed possible for me.  I threw almost half of the ice cream away.  In the garbage.  Me!  I felt great about the decision, both mentally and physically.  Pretty sure if I had eaten the whole cup I would have felt sick.  

Not sure if I could do that again, but having done it once, it gives me hope.  Maybe I have changed.  I hope so!

Another day of vacation, another day to make healthy choices!