Food Options

For a healthy snack or small meal, I will often make my own little stuffed appetizer... It's very easy to do in a van, and it also won't cost you much money. Pick one item from each list and experiment - the possibilities are endless.

STUFF: avacado, red pepper, cabbage or lettuce leaves, celery, cucumber, nori, tomato, or zucchini.
WITH: guacamole, hummus, nut or seed butters, ceviche, pate, veggies or fruits, diced mango or papaya with ginger, pesto, diced tomatoes with basil, carrots, coleslaw, or greens.

I am honestly all over the place when it comes to what I eat, although I always prefer to eat very healthy & simply. Sometimes I am on a raw-food-only phase, and then sometimes I just switch to a vegan or vegetarian diet. And then, of course, there are times when I get on a spree of eating junk, which is what I've been doing lately and it feels horrible.

When I don't think about what I'm taking in, I end up feeling lost & like a completely different person. I really want to stay away from sugars, meat, and white products, but I always seem to eventually fall back into some pattern of eating things that I don't really want to. Ugh. That is when I decide to clear my palette and start over by doing a one day fast - and that is what I'm doing today. I have often heard that it is very beneficial to do a one day fast every month or couple months. If your body isn't busy trying to digest & process, it is better able to help rid your body of toxins. I don't fast that often, although I do try out different methods of detoxing from time to time. A short while back I did a Blessed Herbs internal cleansing program & colon cleanse, and the results were amazing.

When it comes to eating healthy on the road, I mainly just buy non-perishables like granola bars, oatmeal, peanut butter, brown rice crackers, dried fruit, and nuts. The only perishable food I normally buy is fruit, and I eat that so incredibly often that it never has a chance to go bad. If I am hungry, I just stop at a grocery store. I love fruits, veggies, and salads of all types. Is there a Farmers Market nearby? If so, I am jumping for joy! It is so much cheaper to try and make my own creations in my van, although McDonalds has a surprisingly tasty Asian Chicken Salad, and Subway will never cease to be my friend. Mmm.

Trying to eat in my van doesn't really require much effort. My top utensils used are a cutting board, spork, knife, can opener, and my Orikaso backpacking dishes. I also don't know what I would do without my mug, since green tea is essential. Have you tried "By the Light of Day" teas? Peaceful Peninsulas Organic & Fair Trade Green Tea is my favorite. Also, if you are into organic eating, raw foods, or health, I recommend checking out David Wolfe's Sunfood Nutrition and the Raw Family. Lots of great nutritional foods and info there.