I just got back from my class trip to the Netherlands and wow was it fun but also busy! I did my best with food but it wasn’t easy. Some days were more balanced and healthy than others but I learned some good tricks along the way. A little background: I was part of a group of 33 and we traveled through Amsterdam and Rotterdam for 6 days and 5 nights, visiting museums, monuments, design firms and other academic sites. We stayed in hotels and had breakfast there, buffet style. Each day we ate either lunch or dinner as a group (a meal which was pre-ordered for each of us) and were on our own for the other meal. I was running each day and walking a lot so needed to make sure to feed myself with nutritious food and stay hydrated. Now some tools I used to stay well-nourished…
On days where we were on our own for lunch: Since we were a group of budgeting college students most of us would make sandwiches from the bread, meat and cheese at the hotel breakfast buffet. Since I’m not a bread fan, I would pack meat, veggies, cheese and fruit for lunch. On some days I would supplement this with more veggies or other snacks from the grocery store. Making a grocery store/packed lunch then finding a cute picnic spot can be really fun and gives you the opportunity to observe the city. Also, shopping at the grocery store really helps me to see how people live/eat.
Speaking of breakfast buffets: It can be really tempting to gorge on all the sweet and pastry options but those will just cause bloating, sugar crashes and hunger. Instead stick to your normal breakfast. For me thus was eggs (they had hard boiled so I knew I was eating real eggs not powdered ones), with fruit or yogurt. Some days I would have some turkey with my eggs for extra protein. If you’re really tempted for that sweet or baked good, limit yourself to one bite or take it to have later so that you at least aren’t starting your day with it.
About snacking: The grocery store is a great place to go and stock up for some snacks for the week. I bought some carrots and peppers to keep in my bag. I also made sure to have some fruit and protein bars with me when I knew I’d be out and on the go for a while. Other good backpack snack options are nuts, celery, more fruit, deli meat or cucumber.
When it came time to find our own dinner: my class of about 12 students wanted to eat dinner together but it can be hard to find something to fit everyone’s preferences and price range. The solution: food halls. In many cities these markets have lots of different stands serving a wide range of foods and then communal seating. The Foodhallen in Amsterdam had many delicious options and live music too! It was really fun, tasty, and great for a group.
Pre-ordered meals: do your best. Focus on eating meat and vegetables first. Ask to make slight substitutions or don’t eat foods you don’t want/need. Also, plan ahead. For example one night a friend and I knew the group pizza dinner would not fit our needs so we went to it, drank some water and chatted with everyone then went on our own to get what we needed from the grocery store.
Remember to enjoy yourself and try new things and foods but also keep in mind that eating balanced and nutritious meals is the best way to stay happy and healthy during your trip! If you can, carry a water bottle with you – having water on hand saves you money and reminds you to stay hydrated.
Fed and Fueled 