5 Tips To Manage Your Low Carb Road Trip

My boyfriend and I are about to set off on our third trip across Canada (well almost, Halifax to Calgary) and I thought I would compile a few manageable tips to help you manage your low-carb diet while you spend time on the road.

With few resources to cook while on-the-road it can be hard to stay inspired while driving long-haul. You would be surprised at the number of better options you can find roadside than the traditional bag of chips and can of pop, but it is still vital to keep your eyes on the prize and think of the long-term consequences of consuming carby calories when your on the road. You will look and feel better if you keep away from the sugars and starches and keep these tips in mind.


Tip #1:

Pack your snacks. Before you hit the road sit down and make a grocery list, pack the items you would normally eat during the week (and will keep while your on the road) and include a couple treats. If you think about your meal structure and plan ahead a bit you will stay on course to keep the carbs out of your diet. Great treats for your drive are protein bars like 'Quest Bars'. Available in many flavours they are perfect low-carb, gluten-free sweet treats that will leave you fill and help you skip the hunger-pain stops that can delay your trip.


Tip #2:
Keep away from 'Rest Stops' and gas stations when possible. Clearly if you are on a road-trip you will need to stop for gas, but if you stick by the pump your wallet and waistline will thank you. Wether you are looking for a quick treat or a meal, these quick fixes are not a great solution. Pull off the road (if you have time) and grab a meal at a proper restaurant or a snack at a grocery store. Many grocery stores have great salad options, restaurants offer more as well. There is little variety at 'rest stops' and gas stations, I often get sick of the quick fixes and start getting into carby treats after a few quick stops. Pay at the pump if possible and then get back on the road, do not be tempted by the cheap sugary fixes. Your best bet at gas stations are things like pork rinds, cheese, nuts and diet drinks. There are options, just not many good ones. You may get sick of these things if you continuously consume them.


Tip #3:
Plan your stops and their outcomes, including a trip to the grocery store. If you pre-plan where you are stopping you can hype yourself up for your breaks, this can provide an added push to get places on schedule. On your planned stops plan a trip to the grocery store. You will find better prices at grocery stores and won't be tempted by gas-stop specials. Stretching your legs at a grocery store will also give you a little exercise on what can be sedentary days. Grocery stores and pharmacies also have Atkins products which can help you out in a bind. If your into protein shake breakfast like me you can stock up on shakes and save buying yourself breakfast in a restaurant.


Tip #4:
Beware of Ice Coffee. This is an everyday lesson that I have learned the hard way, time and time again. Many fast-food restaurants have this seemly good option, few actually deliver with little sugar and few carbs. Stick with places like McDonald's, other restaurants like Tim Horton's and Starbucks have sugar in the base of the coffee; meaning even if you order it black you will unknowingly consume sugar. McDonald's black, only cream and sugar-free vanilla iced coffees are your safest bets!


Tip #5:
"... no bun*." If you have been keto or low-carb for any amount of time this is a common phrase. Do not even tempt yourself. If you are eating on-the-go there is a higher chance you will keep you hands clean and give into the bun. Many places will now dish up your burger or sandwich in a special way to help you have an easier time. As long as you ask, they will usually deliver. You may get a few strange looks, but keep your best interest in mind. Working in the fast-food industry many people asked me about ordering a burger without a bun at first, but after I explained to them my problems digesting wheat they had new perspective on why I chose to order more meat and no bun. Don't forget to grab a knife and fork too!
Dining in places like California it is common for restaurants to give you lettuce leaf 'bun' if you ask for no bun. Many places I have dined actually come let you know they offer other options if remove the bun and put it on the side of your plate.
*You may want to nix the ketchup too. Some restaurants load their burgers with a surprising amount of ketchup, beefing up your burger with sugary carbs.

How To Start A Keto Lifestyle

I thought my boyfriend was crazy when he cut the carbs. My university roommate was a nutrition major and she also did not recommend eliminating carbs. After watching him drop weight quickly I changed my mind. 

1. I cut carbs completely. When I changed my eating habits I did not ease into it as some people do. The main reason I made the clean cut was because I know some people go through withdraw and have cravings if they continue to eat carby foods (even if they eat smaller portions). 

2. Throw out (or give away) all sugary, gluten packed foods. The basic (and I mean very basic) conversion I started to live by was subtracting fibre from carbs. I lived by on the notion that fibre carbs are good carbs, stay away from sugar and other avoid sweeteners. I aimed to stick under 20 grams of carb everyday, without any exercise. 





3. Check out the nutrition info on everything you buy. Some things vary in carb content. Chicken wings are a good example of a food that change depending on the brand. Honey ham may also surprise you, depending on the brand. Fresh meat is always better than processed meats. Go to the grocery store with a list of theses key items:
-Eggs
-Unsweetened Almond Milk
-Nuts, I prefer almonds (they are perfect to grab by the handful for a snack.
-Heavy cream
-Cheese
-Boston lettuce (you can use this instead a bun)
-Your favourite fresh meats: chicken, pork, beef, turkey
 -Favourite specialty meats: bacon, sausage, certain chicken wings
-Salad Dressings
-Mustard (a core part of my first few weeks of keto)

4. Treat yourself. Find recipes online for things that match your cravings. Jump in, learn new keto recipes and keto treats you can eat from Day 1. Don't deprive yourself. Set your carb limit per day and then stick within it, eat as much as you want of foods with little to no carbs. If you want ice cream, make it. If you want cake, figure it out. There are a tonne of great resources online to help you make something that will satisfy your dessert cravings.

5. Pack your lunch everyday. Have one special lunch a week. This will save you money. Pack leftovers in your lunch from the supper you make the night before. This way you control what you have to eat, the temptation to grab a slice of pizza won't be there.  

Another thing I did when I started keto was drop breakfast. I make a protein shake in its place and have two big meals. I eat "breakfast foods" (eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, omelettes) as main courses now. I make meals now, not just food. I don't scramble to eat the quickest, easiest foods now and put love into the meals I make. 

I think it would be interesting to see how other people got started and what they recommend for newcomers, please comment below and let me know what you did to get started and any tips for newcomers. Let me know what your thoughts are! 

Where Are The Pork Rinds?

If you would have told me at this time last year I would be craving pork rinds I would have said one of two things:

1. "I need to stop watching American Horror Story because weird cravings are not my style."

or, more likely...

2. "What the hell are pork rinds?"

Keto has opened my eyes to some new foods, things I never thought I would eat. Like miracle noodles. Granted, I never will eat Miracle Noodles again, there is one thing I truly miss now that I am back in Nova Scotia that is impossible to find. Pork rinds. 

Living in the arm pit of the universe makes it hard to find certain things you grow accustomed to eating beyond the boarder. Pork rinds are the first example, they common place in any convenience store in other provinces and in the United States but impossible to find in Nova Scotia. My boyfriend and I joke about the reasons why these 0 carb snacks are "illegal" on the peninsula, but I would seriously like to know why we are not allowed to buy pork rinds. 

In general, we do not have a diabetes store or anything of the sorts that we can find. This obviously does not make keto/low carb living impossible, but it does add a few challenges. When living in Calgary we were able to by 0 carb, sugar-free foods pretty conveniently.  Here, it is a completely different story. Pete's Frootique carries some sauces that have made life a little easier, but lines like "Guy's Barbecue Sauce" and "Walden Farms" sauces simply do not seem to exist here. 

Have you run into these problems? This is a problem for me, I do not have a credit card. I would much rather buy local than order things online, but right now that is looking pretty impossible. I try to cut frankenfoods as much as possible from my diet, but sometimes a syrup or sauce is just nice to have. And, pork rinds are the perfect snack for nachos or just on their own. I much prefer them to Beanitos (which we do have in Nova Scotia). 

Believe me, if I had money to spare (if I wasn't a poor student), I would open a Diabetic store in Nova Scotia.