Paleo Eating on Vacation Part I

This is my first vacation as a Paleo eater and it is going well. At first I was a bit stressed out because I am a perfectionist and SUPER type A, so I always want to obey rules. However, I am learning that life is all about balance and flexibility. I keep hearing the words of Sarah Fragoso (author of Everyday Paleo), echoing the importance of 80/20. I can eat solid Paleo food 80% of the time, but sometimes this is not possible or preferable--enter the important 20%. Vacation is definitely a time where 20% is going to come into play.


For example, my eats yesterday were pretty solid. I tried to choose Paleo options as best as I could. Two things I really recommend is to 1) Try to have access to a fridge/kitchenette and bring your own food and/or 2) Seek out Whole Foods! I did both yesterday!

For breakfast, we found Whole Foods mecca on our way through Bethesda. Not only was I able to FINALLY find coconut butter (YAY), I was also able to score some yummy paleo eats at the hot bar.
Here is my Paleo breakfast/brunch:

This meal plus a banana kept me satiated for a good long time.

I also made sure to pack Paleo snacks so I had an apple and some almonds later in the day.

For dinner, we went to one of our favorite places in Williamsburg, The Blue Talon Bistro. It was actually fairly easy to order Paleo here.

I was starving for some veggies, so I ordered a side of broccoli (steamed with a bit of butter--no big deal), and the asparagus salad (hold the cheese and croutons). The vinaigrette was simple oil and sherry vinegar. This meal was PERFECTION. It seriously hit the spot.

For any non-Paleo eaters, you can see the splendid dividing line between Paleo and SAD (Standard Americen Diet). Chase, my husband, ALWAYS orders "The Burger."

This entails a GIANT hamburger complete with cheddar cheese, bacon, a fried egg on a giant brioche bun. He always orders the burger "Without the salad." AKA do not give me the Lettuce, Tomato, or Onion. Tonight he also ordered the Macaroni and Cheese on the side--decadence at its highest heights.

(Chase is not throwing gang signs; this trip is a late celebration of our 4 year anniversary).


So where did the 20% come in--Yesterday I met some old college friends at a cafe for iced tea and biscotti. I enjoyed every bite of that little biscotti and reminisced with friends. This was our tradition and there was no way I was going to deprive myself of this moment!

Later, I also enjoyed a small cup of FroYo. It was delicious and refreshing and an important memory. This is vacation--time to live a little. Happily, my stomach did A-ok with the tiny dose of dairy.

Today, I have started the day with a banana and almond butter and a dash of coconut butter. It will be perfect Paleo fuel for my run this morning. As for the rest of the day, I am not sure, but I feel confident that I can enjoy the day to the fullest.

What are some of your vacation tips? Do you get stressed out about maintaining your eating style? Are you an 80/20 eater?