National Convention = Travel-friendly, Healthy, Affordable Meals

This week has me traveling for work. Getting on a plane with a suitcase full of business clothes to arrive a few hours later at a convention center felt a little surreal. I am sure that in a few years, once I get a “real” job, that surreal feeling will give way to “this is such a pain,” but I will enjoy the excitement for now.

Being in a new city for a couple months, away from my family and friends and a familiar community, has got me thinking about the importance of relationships lately. Granted, I’ve been at least 800 miles from my family for over 6 years now, but every time I take another step in life (college, grad school, post-grad internship), I recognize my need for family a little bit more. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, as well as makes one realize that true loved ones are rare and to be cherished.

I was reading a blog that was shared by one of my former yoga instructors, who I dearly miss, and was struck by the exercise that was mentioned. It seems like a great self-care exercise and a reminder of who is important in our lives, as well as why we should value ourselves so we can take a step away from insecurity and a step towards loving others better.

I want to challenge you to do this exercise. Before reading it, make sure you are ready to actually do it. I think it works best that way, when you haven’t read it and had time to think through the whole thing before writing your response.

For the Exercise: Find a quiet, restful place, whether it’s on your yoga mat, on the couch  or simply your kitchen table -I prefer the open, vulnerability and simultaneous security of my yoga mat. Have a pen and paper ready.

…………….

Think of someone who loves you.

…..Did you pick your person? Don’t read on until you do, ok?

I’m giving you one more chance to not look ahead…

…………………..

Ok, promise me you’ve thought of your person and have a writing utensil and paper near you…

…………………….

Once you choose your person, write a description of yourself in the voice of that person, from their perspective.

How do they see you? Your potential? Your worth? Your value?

I’d love to hear your experience with this.

I thought of my mother. It was powerful to remember that she has such faith in me and believes that I really can obtain my goals and that she will support me whether or not they are realized. Let’s just say I got a little teary eyed and little things didn’t bother me so much the rest of the day.

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So back to that pesky traveling for work thing:

Food Packing List
(italicized denotes an item that may need refrigeration, so either pack in a cooler or buy when you get there, if you have access to a fridge)

Calcium – shelf stable milk, cheese, yogurt (fyi, I’ve switched completely to buying only plain, organic dairy)

Protein – high quality meat jerky, almond butter, protein powder, tuna, hummus, hard-boiled eggs

Complex Carb – old-fashioned oats (you can pre-measure into baggies), bread-like crackers (the funky kind at your health food store), wheat pita pockets, long-lasting bread, whole wheat tortillas

Fruit – apples, oranges, bananas

Veggie – carrots, green beans (raw, washed green beans are delicious!), raw broccoli

Random: cinnamon, curry, honey, flax seed, nuts, dried fruit

Category All Its Own: DARK CHOCOLATE (for any and every occasion, duh)

Potential Meals

• Tuna, nuts, chopped green beans,  curry powder, pita, (optional: yogurt or hummus)
  • Mix all ingredients (including yogurt or hummus, except pita pocket); fill pocket with that mixture
• Tuna, carrots, crackers, nuts, (optional: cheese or shelf-stable milk)
  
• Jerky, orange, crackers, shelf-stable milk (or cheese)
• Oats, banana, nut butter, shelf-stable milk (or hard boiled eggs)
  • Prepare oats with water, stir in mashed banana, and nut butter (cook in microwave or let sit overnight to become more like muesli). Enjoy with milk or eggs as a side.
• Carrots, pita, cheese, jerky (or hard-boiled eggs)
  • Fill pita with jerky or eggs and cheese. Enjoy with carrots.
• Banana, nut butter, pita, shelf-stable milk (or yogurt with honey and cinnamon)
  • Fill pita with banana and nut butter, enjoy with milk.
• Apple, jerky, nuts, crackers
• Jerky, green beans, crackers, shelf-stable milk (or cheese)
• Carrots, crackers, jerky (or hummus), nuts with dried fruit (or cheese)
• Apple, cheese, pita, jerky (or hard-boiled eggs)
  • Fill pita with sliced apple and cheese. Enjoyed with jerky or eggs.