Camping and the Power Foods Lifestyle

bodbuds
Jun 9, 2014
3 min read

It's the summer and you enjoy getting away, enjoying nature, time with your family, and the separation from technology. Camping is a wonderful way to do all of these things . . . but WAIT! You're following the Power Foods Lifestyle and you are afraid of how to eat. I would like to share with you my experience with this and what I recommend for each of my Body Buddies who follow PFL through this simple blog post.

Firstly, think back to the first time you read my book, The Power Foods Lifestyle. On page 15 I say, "Obstacles will arise. Planning and preparing for these challenges does not prevent them, but enables you to work around and through them." The PFL is meant to be maintainable and sustainable with work-arounds. It should not be a black-or-white idea of eating in your mind. Let's work to overcome that, and focus instead on planning and doing our best.

1. Get enough protein

This will help you stay full and help to regulate your blood sugar levels so you don't "crash." This will also help you eat less of the carbs (all the yummy, sugary stuff we don't want) that are so prevalent in foods we typically like while relaxing.
Pack canned tuna, chicken, protein powder, and protein bars. I recommend three bars: Quest Bars, Pure Protein bars, and Carbrite bars. Most all others I have come across are simply glorified candy bars. (I talk about protein powders and bars on pages 58-59 of the book).
Marinade chicken breasts and pack them in coolers to make kabobs or tin foil dinners. My family's favorite marinade includes Apple Cider Vinegar, Hickory seasoning, and a little Olive Oil. Mmmmmmmm.

2. Eat Veggies as snacks

Keep a bag of baby carrots, chopped broccoli, cauliflower, and celery nearby. My family kept a bowl of veggies on our table as we lounged around camp so it was a quick grab when we needed a snack.
Utilize zucchini, squash, and other vegetables in your tin foil dinners and kabobs.

3. Eat Fruit

I talk about fruit and its properties in Chapter 9 of the book. If you're in a hard-and-heavy-ready-to-change-your-body mindset, then I recommend you keep fruit to a very minimum. But when you're on vacation, a piece of fruit can oftentimes be the very best thing to ward off your sweet cravings. I packed pears, peaches, and apples and ate 1/2 fruit with my protein shake in between our main meals of breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

4. Worry less about separating your Carbs and Fats

This is easier to do when you're in a setting of being home--in your normal life structure. Focus, instead, on watching your portion sizes, and stopping your feeding session when you are full.
If you DO want to eat planned Power Foods meals, try making Happy Shepherd's Pie, Cajun Chicken and Rice, or Spagagna for quick and easy meals that will work well with a Dutch Oven or propane stove! These are found in The Power Foods Lifestyle Recipe Book, Volume I.

5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

·I love this about my family! We kept a large water cooler on the table and, with so many little ones running around (I love my nephews and nieces!), we were constantly reminding each other to drink our water.
Other than our day trip to a local waterpark where we enjoyed a small 12 oz. can of soda as a treat with our lunch, we kept soda entirely out of the scope of our camping trip. I couldn't even finish my Shasta as I have trained my body to repel the phosphoric acid. Is it okay to enjoy once in a while as an indulgence? Absolutely. But keep it to that--an indulgence. Not an every day part of your life.

6. Enjoy Some Sweets!

Vacation is to be enjoyed, not dreaded! Though you may need to dial in your nutrition and fitness a bit harder once you're done, it is more important that you enjoy yourself and a few small indulgences!
I played around with my S'mores and had 1/2 Quest bar on my graham cracker with marshmallow. Let me tell you--that was delightful!
I also enjoyed our campfire treats of cobbler and ice cream.
Don't sweat the small stuff! The PFL is always there for us to lean on and turn to for principles, strucuture, and a lifelong realistic approach to eating.

I encourage you to re-read Chapter 1 of The Power Foods Lifestyle -- A Healthy Lifestyle is Maintainable. You may access this by clicking on the Products page.

Love your bud,