Tips for Athletes: Nutrition while Traveling for Competitions
When you’re at home, it’s easy to stay on track with your nutrition and hydration goals. Your house is well-stocked, and even if you eat out, your favorite restaurant knows your order by heart. You have cases of TotalFit Premium Water™ on hand for quick, effective hydration. But what about when you’re traveling? Today, we’ll talk about some of the best tips from the pros to keep your nutrition on track when you’re on the road.
Know your route . A little research in advance can save you big headaches later. Map out your trip and see what’s available, at airports or along the drive route and at your destination. Anticipate delays at airports – they happen a lot – so plan what you’ll do if you’re stuck for several hours. At your destination, map out the nearest supermarkets and health food stores to see what’s close to your hotel. Call the hotel in advance to talk about your dietary needs and discuss the options. If you’re staying for a while, you can also consider other lodging options, like a vacation rental with a full kitchen.
Bring your own . You can’t bring your whole kitchen, but there are things you can bring along to make the trip healthier. Fresh fruit and vegetables are the best option, but your travel plans may make this a limited option. If driving by car or bus, you can probably take a small cooler to keep things fresh, but your snacks need to be packaged right if you’re traveling by plane. The TSA allows you to carry on fresh fruits and vegetables in solid form, so items like apples and baby carrots are great. However, mashed items are considered liquids, so they’re restricted by your on-flight liquid allowance. This makes applesauce and other options tricky. Check with the TSA before your trip to see if any rules have changed.
Shopping and supplies . Once at your destination, you’ll want to stock up on healthy foods from the grocery store. Bring – or be prepared to buy – containers for your choices, since most hotels won’t provide these. If you’re going with a rental house, find out what’s in the kitchen in advance. While it may provide a frying pan and some dishes, some utensils and cooking supplies may be lacking.
Eating out . If possible, eat most of your meals in your hotel room or rental house so you can track your nutrition. But if you find yourself at a restaurant, there are healthy choices you can make. Most restaurants will offer basic proteins and carbs and will accommodate some customization. Avoid all fried foods and heavy sauces. Choose light salads and baked or steamed proteins. Athletes need more carbs, and most restaurants will have a good variety of pastas and whole grain options. Again, research nearby restaurants in advance. If there are just no good options at your destination, plan on dining in.
Traveling for competition is exciting, and a little planning goes a long way to keep your nutrition and hydration levels consistent throughout your trip. You’ll always need superior hydration to perform your best, and TotalFit Premium Water™ delivers with its purified, electrolyte-enhanced, pH balanced formula, micro-clustered for optimal absorption. Grab a case of TotalFit Premium Water™ today for superior hydration to enhance your fitness program. To find TotalFit, order online or find a store near you today. For exciting promotions, fitness tips and more, text “totalfit” to 95577 and BE FIT today!









