Today was another exactly 50% day. I started off recognizing that it is a travel day – fellow road warriors generally agree that the travel days are usually the longest and pose the most healthy choice challenges. I was hoping to see some added energy from the raw and vegan diet to keep me motivated and moving fast through the day. Sure enough, I did get that energy boost to help me make the approximately 4 hour drive after work….but now, whew…I’m tiiiiired! The morning started with green tea, honeydew and watermelon from the hotel. I asked for a to-go container and started eating it around 9am. For lunch at noon I had a green salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing. I also added some apple sauce, which strangely enough tasted good with the salad. Unfortunately I got really busy at work and accidentally skipped the afternoon snack. Before I realized it, 5pm was closing in on me and I needed to eat something. I grabbed more fruit, left over from my morning container, and got on the road. For dinner I did not want to stop, so I drove through a Burger King. I know what you are thinking….but Burger King has veggie burgers. I got a veggie burger, fries and a soda. Any other time a meal of burgers and fries would make me happy, but since I’m eating all of this real and living food, the BK was disgusting. It really tasted bad! I guess my tastebuds are starting to adjust. I wish I would have stopped at a grocery store before hitting the road, I would have found a much better option for dinner. As I’m typing this I’m having an evening snack, half a strawberry banana smoothie. It’s really nice compared to the BK.

Here are my “Raw On The Road” tips for the day:

• Nutrition – Sometimes the fast food places might have something suitable. The words to remember here are “sometimes” and “might”.
• Weight Loss – Try not to skip meals and snacks, for the sake of your metabolism. You may need to set reminders if your days are very busy.
• Workout – It’s okay to take a day off from the gym, you need to give your body time to rebuild. Travel days are the best time to take off since you are putting more wear and tear on your body and will need the rest.

So day 1 for me went very well, I ate exactly at 50% raw and 99% vegan! I started the morning with a green tea, then mid morning I had fresh fruit. The first question I hear you asking is “how in the world did she get fresh fruit when she doesn’t have a kitchen?!” Great question…here’s a tip for you. Usually the hotel will have a breakfast buffet with fruit sliced that morning. They also will provide you with a to-go container if you request it. The hotel I am currently staying at has a wonderful breakfast buffet, and every morning they have fresh cut pineapple and melon. This morning before heading to the office I filled a to-go container with half watermelon and half pineapple. When I got to the office I put it in the refrigerator for later, grabbed a green tea, and headed to my meetings. By mid morning I was ready to eat, and my metabolism revved by the tea.

For lunch I headed to Panera Bread, a good place for vegetarians but I wasn’t so sure about vegans or raw foodies. This place actually did well for my new raw food and vegan lifestyle. I ordered the simple classic salad and baguette. I also got the Jones soda, the Black Cherry flavor is irresistible. Maybe one day I’ll kick that Jones habit, but today was not that day. By the end of lunch I was so full, it was very surprising. I even got the post-lunch tired feeling by mid afternoon. During my afternoon meetings I sipped on another green tea, and right before leaving the office for the gym I grabbed a fuji apple. After my workout I decided on a cooked vegan dinner. I decided on Indian takeout, but don’t ask me the name of what I got….the man at the takeout place remembers me and what I get there….I’ll try to ask him for the name next time I go there.  I’ll try to describe the dish for you: cauliflower, green beans, beans, spices, potato, and some other veggies in a orangey-reddy sauce. I had whatever this dish is called with some rice and roti….very starch heavy but very good also.

Here are my “Raw On The Road” tips for the day:

• Nutrition – Use the hotel buffet. It might be healthier than you think.
• Weight Loss – Try to drink green tea if you must have a warm beverage in the mornings. It has wonderful antioxidants and can replace your coffee and cream cravings if you are having them.
• Workout – Ask the hotel staff for a list of gyms in the area if the one at your hotel is not adequate for a go-hard-or-go-home type of workout. Your time is precious on the road, don’t waste it diddling at a sub-par facility.