Celebrity Chef and Activist Jamie Oliver gave a fascinating and disturbing presentation at TED on how food is literally killing us. We are eating ourselves to death. We live in the most abundant time in recent history. In the developed world, we have living standards which were unheard of only a generation ago. We also have access to the great equalizer, the Internet. Despite all of this, 2/3 of Americans are overweight.What really stuck with me is how casually this can happen and how it affects all of us. This really got me thinking about the Workshifting diet. If you frequently work out of a coffee shop, airport or any other remote location, have you ever stopped and considered what you're eating?
Well...I did. On occasion, I workshift from Bulldog Cafe in Solvang, California. I happily enjoyed a latte with a ham and cheese quiche for breakfast. Throughout the day I was snacking on whatever was there, muffins, juice and more coffee. I don't think my story is unique so I started poking around the internet for tips on a healthy travel diet.
Much of the advice appears to be consistent:
- Pack you own food
- Eat breakfast at home
- Avoid the drive-through
- Be mindful of what your order
Sounds logical...but hell, I don't do that. Doing a quick search I didn't find any practical advice so I reached out to Celebrity Fitness Coach and Nutritionist Rich Guzman. This is what he had to say:
Meals: One third protein (eggs, fish, chicken, turkey, tofu) and two thirds vegetables (greens, squash, or other less starchy ones) if you're trying to remain healthy and lean.
Timing: Eating every three hours is advantageous to keep the body from burning muscle for energy. If you have the tendency to feel bloated or have indigestion after most meals you may have food allergies to yeast, gluten, dairy, or sugar. Sugar is the real enemy when trying to maintain or lose body fat. It sneaks into our diets via fruit juices, alcohol, packaged or restaurant food, and in our energy drinks. The body can only manage small amounts of sugar in the system and uses insulin to keep the body on an even keel. The body reacts in a defensive mode when sugar is introduced in mass quantities by pumping out insulin and storing everything as fat (carbs, protein, and fats).
On-the-go: Starbucks has oatmeal and hard-boiled egg choices. The dried fruit and nuts also works if you're training hard and need a snack. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf offers a yogurt parfait and a tuna sandwich. My recommendation for a drink is Green Tea iced or hot, or a soy decaf sugar-free coffee drink (take all the fun out of it).
If you have questions, you can reach Rich Guzman on Twitter @laroxdude.
The best outcome of this post would be awareness. You are going to do some of the things Rich recommends and not others, but if you keep this top of mind and share information on lessons learned, we'll all be better off.
What are your tips for healthy eating on-the-go?
Photo Credit: sshb
