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Managing a Meal Plan On Vacation With Limited Food Choices
Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
Perhaps one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects about recovery is becoming well enough to begin doing things in life that interest you or that you previously enjoyed.
Having an eating disorder often robs you of the things in life that you once found pleasurable, particularly as your mind and thoughts become obsessive about food and your body. As you begin healing, you will find freedom to begin exploring new ventures in life.
Traveling While in Eating Disorder Recovery
Once in recovery, and when medically, nutritionally, and psychologically stable, traveling may be something you are interested in doing. It is important that you do not make travel plans without the clearance from your treatment team.
Ideally, you should be at an outpatient level of treatment when considering travel plans that require you to be away from home for any extended period of time. Your treatment team can advise you on the types of travel that might be most appropriate for you based on your progression in recovery.
If you are considering any type of travel that involves extended time away from home or that involves limited access to general commodities, such as grocery stores, a place to cook/prepare meals, etc., it is especially important to make adequate preparations ahead of time.
This might involve something like backpacking, camping, hiking trips, and so forth. Remember, it is crucial to be medically cleared by your treatment team before considering a trip like this.
Adequate Food With Limited Choices
Traveling remotely can be an incredible experience, but it is essential that you are planning to meet your nutritional needs wherever you might be going.
Consider the length of time for your trip and the amount of food you will reasonably need to eat during this time.
Packing foods that are portable and nutrient dense are excellent for traveling, such as trail mix, nuts, jerky, dried fruits, protein bars, and the like.
If you will be gone for an extended period of time, consider freeze dried foods that can be reconstituted with water or prepared with minimal materials.
Consider planning your trip with various “pit-stops” that allow you to restock on necessities in case you are running low on any food materials.
Planning a vacation or trip that involves extended outdoor activity is possible in recovery with appropriate preparation.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
What are other ideas you might have for a successful outdoor trip while in recovery?
About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating.
Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.
As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on July 6, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
