On the road...again

  Before I stepped foot on stage in my plastic heels, I was a frequent traveler.  My job took me to different cities across the continental United States; I've been to almost all 50 states; so has my purse chicken.  It's not glamorous, by any means, to whip out a plastic bag full of room-temp tilapia and green beans and eat it on an airplane next to others..........but you gotta do what you gotta do when it comes to getting ready for the stage.  Airports can be tough when it comes to finding healthy eats, so I found that brining my own food was always the best defense against the grease and fat-laden airport options.  Don't get me wrong: I'd do naughty things to Cinnabon from time to time, but that type of food will kill you if you have physique goals.  Here are some basic rules: Preparation: This is perhaps the #1 rule for both travel and regular, everyday life when it comes to eating healthy.  The fridge/pantry need to be stocked with healthy options so you can grab and go.  My house is full of fruits, veggies, whole wheat grains, nuts, healthy soups, lots of things that used to have a face, and fat free dairy options.  When I know I’m going to be away from my kitchen, I throw a mixture of carbs, proteins, and fats into my bag and go.  I just eat a protein and either a carb or a fat and a veggie at each meal and call it a day.  And as long as I have something healthy within reach, my butt will thank me. So, how does this all play into travel?  My suitcase turns into my own personal pantry when traveling.  That's right - baggies and tupperware full of my food are all mixed in with my undies.  Sexy! I never check bags, which I highly recommend when you're traveling with food, otherwise you'll end up with a huge mess AND your food will always be available to you.  All in all, it would take about 3 hrs of total time to portion, pack, and secure all of my food.  Lots of time, lots of preparation, but it ensured 100% compliance.  I never deviated from my plan – ever! In an off season, and for normal people, just pack essentials that will make it through security: rice cakes, nuts, protein bars, some fruit, maybe a bit of protein powder or some pre-cooked chicken to hold you over until you land.  Most airports have places where you can buy raw nuts and fruit, so you might not even need to pack those.  And Starbucks is like a healthy oasis for me: they have oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, fruit/cheese platters, veggie/hummus platters, etc.  Between Starbucks and packing a few healthy snacks, you can make it through the airport without compromising your waistline. The grocery store is your friend:  Another option is finding a grocery store when you land.  I used to do this ALL THE TIME.  I'd just pack my meats and sweet potatoes, and then I'd find a grocery store and buy microwaveable veggies and brown rice, lettuce, and fruit. You can even find pre-cooked chicken or grab some deli turkey or tuna pouches for quick protein sources.  If you're staying in a hotel, call ahead and see if they have microwaves and mini fridges that they'll bring up to your room.  They usually charge for it, but it's worth it.  I would just pack my food scale and some empty tupperware and then buy EVERYTHING when I got to a grocery store.  Easy as pie.  Mmmmm, pie…………..   Beth is an NPC and OCB figure competitor and has been competing for 3 years.  When she’s not rocking the stage in her stiletto heels, she’s either at work as Project Manager at a Pharmaceutical company in Durham, NC or she’s in the gym training clients or teaching spin classes.  In her very minimal free time, Beth likes to sleep, eat, play with her dog, and spend time with her boyfriend and friends (who also like to sleep and eat).