If you find it difficult to adhere to certain lifestyle choices and habits while away from home, this post is for you!

In the past, I found a big source of stress for me was being away from my comfort zone, and overly obsessed with strict rules and labels (both of myself and the nutritional kind).

I am now in a place where I feel confident enough to stand strong at times of temptation, especially around family or strangers when I feel pressure, or feel like the odd one out. I also am comfortable enough with myself that I know I can have a piece of wedding cake and not fall completely off the wagon.

This takes time, practice, and awareness to honor your choices. It takes knowing the difference between quality and quantity, and knowing you are worth taking one more lap around the airport to make a choice on what to eat, before settling for something less than nutritious.

We've had a memorial service and two weddings in the last 6 weeks, so being out of our routine and comfort zone is something we have become pros at!

Making time for exercise is key. Whether it is a jog around the block, an early morning walk, or yoga in your hotel room, do it. I find that morning is easiest, even before your hosts awake, as to not feel as though you are imposing. If you try and save it for later in the day, activities, visits, and other events will find a way to get in the way (trust me). Exercise is the yin to the diet yang. When you exercise, you flip a switch that makes you want to feed your body in a cleaner and smarter way.

Tyler and I have made a new tradition of going for morning jogs in the city we are visiting as a way to explore sights we may not see otherwise. After time on a plane, train, or in the car, it also feels great! I find my body craves the movement to get the blood flowing during times of travel. You will find the exercise also to be super beneficial in handling any stress that inevitably arises during times away from home.

Now I would like to share our experiences during these times away from home, and how we chose to make choices that served us, most of the time ;)

I may or may not be trespassing in this photo.

While in Tampa, my future Father-in-Law purchased steaks for us to enjoy on the grill. It has been over 5 years since I have had red meat, and I have zero interest in eating it. So I went to work in the kitchen finding ways to add more plant power to the table. He had also picked up some gorgeous bell peppers that we made skewers out of (Tyler had a lot of fun raiding the spice cabinet for this). I found quinoa and a can of Amy's Kitchen Black Bean Soup in the pantry. Ta-Da! Rice or pasta and a can of beans would work in this situationjust as well. Don't be shy and ask to help out. Your contribution will be enjoyed by all!

Food doesn't have to be fancy or complicated to be nutrious and filling (and taste great!).

We also were feeling the need for some nutrient dense juice, after chips and salsa and other indulgences (Peanut M&M's may have been consumed) so we sought out Xtreme Juice, a local smoothie chain. Lucky for us, they did have fresh juice available. The smoothies were fruit concentrate and frozen yogurt based, so we steered clear and went for an all veggie blend of kale, apple, cucumber, lemon, and ginger called the "Dirty Hippie." I love to seek out any establishment that is doing something green and support them.

While on the road in upstate New York, we a made a point to stop in Woodstock. I've heard nothing but great things, and when I did a search on HappyCow.net a fantastic sounding vegan restaurant stood out from the others. We had an amazing meal at Woodstock Garden Cafe and I look forward to returning again!

 Tuscan Arugula and White Bean Salad. The dressing was perfection!

Indian Vegetable & Chickpea Enchiladas with Curried Apple Coconut Salad

Keeping healthy snacks on hand in the car and hotel room will help manage hunger pangs and allow you to make better choices at meal time. We brought hummus, trail mix, and apples and stopped along the way for celery and carrots.

Another spot worth mentioning is The Pub on 9 in Bolton Landing, NY. We stumbled on this neighborhood joint with live music and more than one salad on the menu.

In Atlanta, we were lucky enough to have friends that knew great choices for local and fresh fare. West Egg Cafe and Radial Cafe made the cut and we had a great experience at both. I had tofu scramble and vegan hash (along with sharing delicious cinnamon buns and hazelnut french toast, respectively). When we are talking about real, fresh, whole foods enjoyed in real time with awareness, its all good in my opinion. It is all about balance! We walked a lot, and went for a jog each morning. We also were relaxed, took our time to converse with our friends, and we danced our butts off at the wedding! We enjoyed a cocktail or two, and the same for a glass of wine. We made sure to drink lots of water, and we committed to being up the next morning for a jog through Piedmont Park in search of Arden's Garden, a smoothie spot that Foursquare recommended. It was awesome! Such a great value. And maybe the best smoothies ever? Yep, I said it.

The Georgia Aquarium was the cherry on top of our amazing weekend- A must see and do if you are in town. The Cafe had some decent options for lighter fare. There was a salad bar, but I honestly wasn't in the mood, so we shared a minestrone soup, green beans (these were cooked with butter we found out after, and I assumed anyway), mixed nuts/seeds, and Food Should Taste Good multigrain chips. Not bad, considering there was pizza, macaroni and cheese, deli sandwiches, and lots of cookies, brownies, and cupcakes.

In the Atlanta Airport I almost settled on Atlanta Bread Company for a Veggie Sandwich (hold the cheese). But I still felt we could do better (and $7 for mediocre bread, cucumbers, tomato, and iceberg- I don't think so). We found a place called Fresh Healthy Cafe where I ordered the hummus wrap and Tyler opted for the Portobello panini.

In the end, it is all about making choices you know serve you. Think of long term reward, not instant gratification. It is much better to feel energized and strong and sexy when away on vacation, versus feeling heavy and stuffed and bloated. We are blessed to live with so many choices, and an abundance of calories. Don't feel the need to indulge simply because the opportunity is there.

If you feel as though you would benefit from one on one support with traveling, facing temptation, or other wellness concerns/goals, please do not hesitate to reach out. I look forward to sharing with you how we may work together!