Eating well when you’re away from home—whether traveling or going to restaurants—can feel like a total minefield.

And if you scroll through social media for advice, you’ll usually see one of two extremes:

01. YOLO! Have complete food freedom—indulge in all the things, eat whatever you want, and give zero f*cks

02. Be rigid and control every detail—bring your own salad dressing, pre-track your macros, and grill the waiter about whether the chicken was local and if he has a lot of friends.

But the problem is that one pretty much disregards your physical health while the other, doesn’t take your mental health and happiness into account at all.

Neither of those vibes are my jam (and honestly, neither one reflects what most moms really need, especially when vacations, date nights, and girls nights’ out might be harder to come by).

The truth? The healthiest approach to this—like most things— usually lives somewhere in the gray area.

A Balanced Travel Food Philosophy

My personal and professional approach (what I do and also recommend to the moms I work with) is simple:
maximize nourishment while minimizing inflammation and symptom triggers.

That means setting yourself up with some basics so you’re not totally at the mercy of a carb-heavy continental breakfast, food cooked in mystery oils for every single meal, or what your (I am sure very well-meaning) mother-in-law is making for dinner.

That could mean packing things with you, or— if you’re staying with family, at an Airbnb, or at least in a room with a mini fridge— doing a quick grocery run when you arrive to your destination.

A few travel staples I love:

Protein bars (my favorite ones here)
Beef sticks or jerky
Protein powder
Yogurt or cottage cheese cups
Individually-wrapped/ pre-sliced cheeses
Electrolytes (like these)

This way, you always have supportive options on hand, even if the restaurant menu, hotel spread, or host’s pantry isn’t your ideal.

Making Healthy Choices at Restaurants

When I’m looking at a menu, my filter isn’t “What’s the “cleanest,” most perfect choice with the least amount of calories?”

Instead, I ask: What’s going to fuel me best and help me feel good?

That includes how I’ll feel physically (i.e. digestion, energy, blood sugar) but also mentally and emotionally (i.e. what will taste delicious and even be a shared joy with whomever I’m eating with).

For example:

Do most restaurants cook with seed oils? Yup. Is limiting your options to find who uses beef tallow for frying or playing menu Tetris to avoiding seed oils entirely more stressful than it’s worth? Probably.
Maybe alcohol makes you feel sluggish, messes with your sleep, or simply doesn’t feel worth the potential hangover when you’ve got little kids who wake at the crack of dawn.. In that case, it’s worth limiting or potentially choosing a mocktail instead—but you might also decide that a glass of wine with dinner or a fancy cocktail adds to the experience. That balance matters too.
Does gluten trigger symptoms for you? Dairy? Something else? If yes, it’s worth steering clear. But if not, enjoying some bread, ice cream, or pizza on vacation might not be a big deal.

It really comes down to knowing your body and your personal thresholds.

Finding Balance Without the “Vacation Diet Mentality”

Here’s the part so many moms need to hear: food shouldn’t feel stressful, even when you’re away from home.

You don’t have to swing from “total freedom” on vacation to “total restriction” when you get back.

You don’t need to start over, detox, or jump into a new diet just because you traveled.

Instead, give yourself permission to relax without checking out completely. Travel can be both nourishing and enjoyable when you’re not stuck in the extremes.

Need Support Navigating This?

If you struggle with:

a long list of food intolerances
digestive symptoms that flare up when you eat out or make you avoid foods you love
finding that healthy middle ground in your relationship with food

That’s exactly the kind of support I offer as a functional nutritionist for moms. Together, we can create a plan that helps you feel good in your body—whether you’re at home, on vacation, or grabbing takeout between soccer practice and bedtime.

💌 Ready to find your balance? Reach out here and let’s chat.

Let's work together