Eating Healthy (and saving money!) While Traveling

Eating Healthy While Traveling

We travel a lot (at least in our eyes). Scott normally has to take 3-4 work trips per year (I usually go on some of them), we take a two week hiking trip in the fall, and usually go somewhere over his winter break. When we are home we often take day or weekend trips to the mountains to hike so we’ve learned some tips and tricks to help us stay healthy but still enjoy our time away. 

We don’t let vacation turn into a “free for all” because we know that we won’t feel well if we do that but we also aren’t very strict either. Remember those posts about balance (here and here)? This is a lifestyle for us so we know that we can indulge as much or as little as we want and either way we will still be okay. The most important thing is that quickly after we return home we get right back into our routines. It’s a lifestyle - not a diet - and living this lifestyle (eating clean and working out) allows us to continue to do the things that we love.

I hate wasting anything, especially food, so I actually pack up and take any food we have in the fridge that will go bad while we are gone. We normally eat this at the airport before boarding or on the plane. Not only will these tips save you money but they will also allow you to save your treats for things that you really want once you arrive at your destination.

Also see this post on Clean Food to Pack for the Airport and this post on Clean Road Trip Food.

How to Eat Healthy + Save Money While Traveling

PACKING:

Although we normally go grocery shopping once we get to where we are going I always pack snacks for the road. Along with bringing any food that will spoil while we are gone I bring the following:

• Protein Bars (some of our favorite include Kind bars and Rise bars)
• Protein Powder (our preferred is TLS Whey Protein Powder)
• Rice Cakes
• Nuts (usually cashews or almonds)
• Supplements (Daily Essentials Vitamins packets, Digestive Enzymes Packets, Awake Energy Shots, etc)
• Blender Bottle (for protein shakes and Isotonix vitamins in the morning)

AT THE HOTEL:

We ALWAYS get a room that has a mini refrigerator. Most of the time this comes at no extra cost but even if they do charge you it’s less expensive than eating out every single meal. Use the refrigerator to store the food you brought from home, leftovers, or food from when you go grocery shopping. We always eat breakfast at the hotel in order to save money. If we have a kitchen we make eggs, if we don't have a kitchen we will drink a protein shake and make oats (like we did in the picture above from NYC).

IN THE CAR/AT THE AIRPORT:

Walking through the airport, you will see many different choices available. Although the pastries and pizzas look good if you look a little further down you can likely find a salad, fruit cup, protein bar, etc. Why eat airport pizza when you can have quality pizza once you reach your destination?

If you are on an airline that still offer free snacks, skip them. Have you ever looked at the ingredient label on those snacks? They aren't just "peanuts" and the 100 calorie pack of cookies will just make you more hungry! You packed food to bring so just snack on something you packed if you are hungry.

I’ve combined car and airport snacks because it’s really the same techniques we use with each - skip the drive-thru and pack your own snacks!

There are always health(ier) choices. Instead of wasting your "treats" on mediocre food from a drive-thru or airport, be prepared and save your treats for when you reach your destination.

We plan on posting more money saving tips soon on 40isthenew65.com so be sure to subscribe!

Eating Clean at Costco {Shopping List}

We get a lot of questions about where we shop, how much money we spend, etc. We are going to do a series of posts on "Eating Healthy on a Budget" but wanted to go ahead and share our updated weekly Costco shopping list (we've shared a Costco list before but it has been a few years since we updated it!).

UPDATE: Here's our first post in the series: How to eat healthy on a budget!

Below are the items we typically purchase from Costco on a weekly basis. We also pick up some smaller items at Publix or Whole Foods Market. We spend around $80-$110 weekly at Costco for the two of us (Scott eats A LOT!).

I've listed the item, price, and the recipes that we typically use the item for. You can find all of our recipes on listed by meal on the website. Follow us on Pinterest so you don't miss a recipe! Also, join our FREE Healthy Living Challenge for more shopping and food prep tips and tricks!

Keep in mind that these are the prices at our local Costco in GA. The availability and pricing will vary.

You are a Costco lover too?! Check out our additional Costco related content:

• How to Throw a Party on a Budget - Costco Food Ideas
• Healthy Kid-Friendly Snacks from Costco {Refrigerated}
• Healthy Kid-Friendly Snacks from Costco {Shelf-Stable}
• How to Order a Cake from Costco
• How to Order a Party Platter from Costco
• How to Order a Pie from Costco

>>>> Looking for a printable version of this shopping list? Click here to print!
* You will be asked for your email address and then directed to the printable shopping list.

EATING CLEAN AT COSTCO {SHOPPING LIST}

Organic Eggs (two dozen and we normally buy two cartons) $6.99

• Boiled eggs (how to boil eggs in the oven & how to boil eggs in the Instant Pot)
• Scrambled eggs (how to make perfect scrambled eggs)
• Baking

Liquid Egg Whites (6 cartons) $7.99

• Added to all of our shakes
• Used in baking (homemade protein bars, etc)

Organic Chicken Breasts $21.08 ($5.99 per pound)

• Boiled Chicken
• Clean Chicken Salad
• Used in any of our chicken recipes (many of these are listed on our "main dish" page)

Lemons $6.59

• Juice
• Refreshing Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Detox Drink

Tomatoes $7.79

• Juice
• Salsa Chicken

Fage 0% Total Greek Yogurt $6.49

• Clean Chicken Salad
• Four Ingredient Protein Pudding

Avocados (6) $6.99

• Chocolate Avocado Pudding
• Blueberry Avocado Protein Smoothie

Frozen Organic Blueberries $11.79

• Blueberry Burst Pancakes
• Blueberry Crisp Oatmeal Bake
• Blueberry Avocado Protein Smoothie

Asparagus $5.99

• Balsamic Garlic Asparagus

Other items typically purchased at Costco:

• Almond/Peanut Butter
• Wild Caught Mahi Mahi
• Frozen Organic Strawberries
• Brown Rice
• Quinoa (how to make quinoa in the Instant Pot)

I hope this helps make your shopping easier! We also have a Getting Started and Food Prep eBook if you would like to learn more!

- Whitney

Tips to Save Money while Eating Healthy + Healthy AND Frugal Meal Ideas

We're all looking for healthy recipes but a lot of times those healthy recipes call for ingredients that you might not have all the time in your pantry. We're all about healthy meals that don't break the bank here and wanted to share some of our favorites with you and also some tips!

>>>> Ever feel like you need to detox your money? Join our detox your money challenge here!

Simple Tips on Saving Money While Eating Healthy

• Start using that dusty old spice rack to give your recipes a little more flavor. You will use this often when preparing your own healthy meals at home.
• Buy extra when an item goes on sale, especially if it is shelf stable (chicken broth, beans, etc) or can be frozen and used later (meats). We've even dedicated one of our hall closets as our "bulk" closet.
• We've had pretty good success scoring coupons by emailing the vendors that market the products that we frequently purchase. Most of the time you can reach them by going to the "Contact Us" section of their website; however, it's often as simple as signing up for their email newsletter!
• Check the front of the store where you shop for coupons. Some stores have booklets right when you walk in that are full of recipes and coupons. Browse through these before you start shopping to see if there is a coupon for something on your list.
  
  See more money saving ideas here.

Our Favorite Healthy AND Frugal Meal Ideas

Don't be fooled...eating out is very expensive. It adds up quickly although most people just pay attention to their grocery store total vs their restaurant bill. We love to buy ingredients that we can use in many different recipes and make the most cost-effective meals we can. Below we share with you some of our favorites and an approximate total for each. We think it's a small price to pay when you can control exactly what is going in your food and how it is prepared.

• Egg White Omelet with Spinach and Onions (add minced garlic, sea salt, and pepper) paired with our Sweet-Sweet Potato Cubes
  • Total Cost: $2.00-$3.00 per serving
• Protein Shake with Crock Pot Oats (Apple-Cinnamon or Cranberry Apple)
  • Total Cost: $3.25-$4.25 per serving
• Salsa Chicken with Brown Rice and Mixed Veggies
  • Total Cost: $2.00-$3.00 per serving
• Clean Eating Chicken Salad
  • Total Cost: $2.50-$3.50 per serving

How do you save money at the grocery store? Any tips we forgot to include?

Check out these additional resources:

• How to Eat Healthy on a Budget
• 6 Ways to Save Money at Restaurants