Eating well while on the road is a serious challenge. In particular, I find getting a sufficient amount of quality fats to be really tricky given that most restaurants no longer even serve real butter!
Forget about decent milk and cream unless you happen to be traveling to a friend or relative’s home who also eats traditionally.
Adequate fat intake while traveling is absolutely essential as it calms frayed nerves and keeps the blood sugar steady so that you don’t succumb to all the cheap processed carbs and make yourself ill in the process – not to mention packing on a few unwanted pounds!
Coconut Milk Smoothie
Here’s a recipe for a quick nourishing smoothie that is loaded with good fats that can be made anywhere with ingredients that can be found even at a regular supermarket.
This is also a good recipe to use if fresh dairy from a small local farm is unavailable in your area or you have simply run out for a few days until the next farm pickup!
Coconut Milk Smoothie Recipe
Nourishing recipe for a coconut milk smoothie which is great for traveling as whole coconut milk is easy to source when on the road.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole coconut milk
- 2 bananas ripe, preferably organic
- 2-4 Tbl maple syrup
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- coconut water optional, preferably raw
Instructions
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Wash eggs in warm, soapy water and dry.
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Crack eggs and separate out the yolks.
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Puree bananas with egg yolks in a food processor or blender.
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Add remaining ingredients except coconut water and blend again. Add additional coconut water if desired to obtain desired thickness.
Recipe Notes
Plain filtered water may be substituted for coconut water.
Substitute coconut milk kefir instead of plain coconut milk for an extra probiotic boost.
 More Smoothie Recipes to Try
Here are some other smoothies to try when you feel the need to mix things up:
- Peanut butter banana smoothie
- Banana and blueberry almond milk smoothie
- Kefir smoothie
- Clabbered raw milk smoothie
- Smoothie alternative
- Raspberry lassi recipe
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
I am leaving to drive across the country on Sunday and I am seriously concerned about getting the best nutrition I possibly can while on the road so this post could not have come at a more perfect time! However, I don’t see how this recipe is really travel conducive (at least not for coast to coast travel) – finding a grocery store in the middle of nowhere, getting refrigerated items, carrying a blender or food processor with me and then making this in the parking lot? I am trying to plan what to bring and make so that I am self-sufficient but I am overwhelmed.
You can get those little smoothie containers that contain a stainless steel ball in them and you can shake it up and mix it that way.
Another idea for “car smoothies” – if you have a stick blender you can buy a small “outlet” that goes into your cigarette lighter and the other side is a regular looking outlet (I think it was $30-40 at Radio Shack) and plug it in that. Kind of a pain I know, but I just finished a 2000 mile road trip and did not have “good” food to eat and really paid for it!
Nourishing Travel Smoothie – The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/k5PqYfL
Nourishing Travel Smoothie – The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/k5PqYfL
My variation on this recipe would be to add a couple ice cubes, skip the maple syrup to reduce sugar (the bananas are plenty sweet enough), and then I would open 1 capsule of probiotics. My favorite is HLC Intensive by Pharmax.
I always travel with a few days supply of probiotics in a little pill holder or ziplock since my stomach and immune system are the first things to get negatively affected during a trip (air travel, poor quality food in restaurants, less sleep, etc).
Morning Sarah!
I love the idea to use coconut milk! I’m going to try this, I hope my kids like it, they like Coc oil in things so we should be good.
Danielle, egg whites aren’t good to eat raw (due to their avidin content which acts as an anti-nutrient when uncooked), but egg yolks are super good for us if from a farmer you trust. 🙂
Kelly
Good to know Kelly – thank you!
Thanks Sarah! Question – who only the yolks. I saw the same in your ice cream video. When I’ve made ice cream in the past (family recipe passed down) it called for the whole egg.
I didn’t realize good fats help calm your nerves – that is so good for me to know. 🙂 thanks for the info and recipe.
Oh yes for sure good fats keep you focused and calm. I am a wreck without my fats! 🙂
Well with the way I’ve been acting lately, I think I should start eating a stick a day! Haha!
THANKS for pointing out: “most restaurants no longer even serve real butter!” This is SO TRUE! I was blown away at this discovery! Even a place like Jasons Deli (Organic based deli) I have to ASK for REAL butter from their catering department, otherwise, its some bizzare mix of ingredients called “butter”. SCARY!!
I was recently at a seafood restaurant on the water. I knew their all you can eat crab would be fresh, but was horrified with the 2 small cups of melted “butter.” I pushed it aside and as it cooled in never changed texture or solidified. The waitress asked-you don’t want the butter? I told her-That’s not real butter!
It’s the same with trying to get cream for your coffee, in most restaurants. We were at a breakfast/lunch place a few weeks ago and I asked for real cream or half-and-half. The waitress pointed at the room-temp hydrogenated oil “creamers”. I explained that I wanted something without hydrogenated oil. Since they didn’t have cream or half-and-half I asked about whole milk. Nope… but she thought they might have a few small cartons of ultra-pasteurized 1% in the back somewhere. Never mind. 😛
Oh my ! No real butter for dipping your crab or lobster? No cream or half and half?
NO WONDER it seems like so many folks are so crabby these days! Everyone’s blood sugar is seesawing all over the place with no decent fats around!
Another question: Would it be better to buy coconut cream concentrate instead of canned coconut to avoid the sulfites, guar gum, and really just a watered down product? I found that Tropical Traditions offers coconut cream concentrate in glass, so no BPA, too.
Oh Amanda…I’m glad you brought this up. I was wondering the same thing. I think the Tropical Traditions coconut cream concentrate would be a great idea. And it would be easy to travel with.
Would you use canned coconut milk, as that would be easiest to find on a road trip? If so, what kind is best to buy? I’ve just “homemade” the coconut milk before.