Number one question I get when discussing my food needs is: what do I eat on the road? The answer is whatever I can find. The secret is knowing where to look.

For eating out, I start with google to see if I can find any paleo restaurants in the area. I also use UrbanSpoon a lot. If it’s a last minute thing, then I go to my allergy friendly apps like FindMeGlutenFree. As much as I prefer to support small businesses, I frequently have to fall back on chain restaurants because I know they have options and protocol for allergens.

Whenever possible, I get to the restaurant early – particularly if I’m dining with a client. This way, I can chat with the waitstaff, and frequently the manager, so I don’t have to steal the attention at dinner by making my needs the floor show. If I can’t connect before dinner, I will try to seat myself at the end of the table, by where the waiter will stand, so I’m not shouting over anyone. I always put my faith in the chef by telling the waitstaff what I can’t eat and saying that whatever they need to do to make it so I can eat it, is fine by me. That way, they’re not coming back to the table ten times with questions. I do also have printed up cards that list what I can’t have, but I usually for get these if it’s a last minute thing.

I have had difficult experiences – little or no selection, been told I can’t be served, had reactions. I’ve eaten a lot of steamed vegetables and plain meat. I have explained my dietary needs to so many people, even I’m sick of hearing me talk about it. Sometimes, I just don’t talk about it and that makes for an even more difficult experience, so I do my best to make myself talk to other people and waitstaff.

The best thing, and my preference, of how to handle my food needs on the road, is to find the nearest grocery store and stock up on safe foods. Always having snacks in my bag keeps me from bad decisions due to hunger, and knowing I have food in my room that’s less work than finding a restaurant suits me just fine at the end of a long day. If I can’t find a grocery store, 7-Eleven and Walgreens usually have bananas and hard-boiled eggs. I have lived off of this combination in many, many cities for days at a time. And people think life on the road is glamorous? Not quite as glam as one would imagine. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

(I know the oatmeal isn’t paleo, but I was really sick on that trip and soup can’t go through the coffee maker and it’s gluten free)