Episode 361: Road Trip Tips

(0:41) Welcome
Welcome back to The Paleo View everyone! Stacy is still on the road, and as mentioned last week, is going to talk about how life on the road is going Please welcome this week's special guest, Matt, the other half of Real Everything Matt and Stacy are on day 31 of a 68-day cross-country road trip
Recording this week's episode from their Las Vegas hotel
This week Matt and Stacy plan to share travel tips from their experience
How to eat real food How to plan accordingly What to research during the planning process The lessons Matt and Stacy have learned
(3:24) Where to Begin
First and foremost, decide on an overall plan
Part of Matt and Stacy's plan included how they were going to get to where they wanted to go
They initially planned to do an RV trip, but traveling via RV wasn't a fit for them for many reasons
Specifically, it is really hard to explore cities with an RV
Traveling via minivan has really worked out well Matt and Stacy also looked at all the locations they wanted to visit and exploring their lodging options along their route
Stops with friends they could stay with Airbnb Hotels
Sarah asked how Matt and Stacy plotted their route (how many miles they would cover each day, how they tracked the details, etc.)
Stacy created a Google Doc that started as a list and then turned that information into a table in Google Docs
This is an app that they can track on their phone, and even Cole has been able to follow along with their travels plan Matt and Stacy's parents also have access to the document so they can track along with their travels
They have also used Google Maps to plot their plans Matt mentioned that they did try using road trip travel apps, but they didn't add any features that were actually helpful Stacy recommends using a tool, whatever you feel comfortable with, to plan this out
At first, the planning was happening in Matt and Stacy's heads
Then Stacy was capturing details in her Notes app on her phone And eventually, the notes made their way into a Google Doc From there a formal final table was created
They started their planning by asking each family member, what two places in the country do you want to visit?
This began the plotting process Stacy also had some business to tend to along their travels, which gave them additional points to plot All of these map points and the dates relevant to those various points provided the structure that the trip needs
There has been a bit of zigging and zagging in Matt and Stacy's travels, but it has worked out really well for them
Another thing to consider is how long your family can be in the car
They try to keep it to four hours or less, but they can do 8 to 10 hour days when needed They tried really hard to map out this trip so that they have 4 to 5 hour days on average, with less than a dozen long days on their travel plans
Also, look at where you are going and what you are going to want to do once you are there
How much time will you need or want at these spots? Keep in mind that you will not be able to see everything
For Matt and Stacy's kids, this trip has been great to provide a glimpse into various locations that they want to revisit and explore further
The other thing to consider is how to break your days up
For example, if you are bringing a pet you will need to stop more often Matt and Stacy are kind of hardcore and avoid breaks
They will tell the kids they are not stopping until they need gas again
Factor in all breaks into your travel time One of the best things that Stacy did was find a cooler that plugs into the car chargeroutlet in their minivan
It is literally a minifridge that also has an electric plug and wheels so that it rolls like a cooler They plug it into the car and then when they reach their destination for that day, they unplug it and bring it into their stop
Matt and Stacy also brought along an electric hot water kettleto make their own coffee, Wild Zorapacks and Pique Tea
(18:46) Eating on the Go
For the most part, Matt, Stacy and the boys have eaten wraps while in the car
They have kept romaine lettuce, lunch meat, high-quality cheese, squeeze bottle mayo, and mustard
They have also kept trail mixes in stock in the car, but they lean towards the wraps and baby carrots so that people can get in healthy food while on the road Matt and Stacy set up the minivan with the middle seat missing and this is where the cooler and the snack bin lives
The snack bin lid serves as the tabletop so that Cole can make people wraps
Know your limitations
While you are reducing stress in your life without the typical daily stressors (work, house chores, etc.) you are increasing your stress factors in other ways
Less than ideal sleep Sitting down for extended periods of time Tracking the mileage logistics
So don't add the stress of eating foods that you know are going to cause irritation
Stacy has been very careful to not do the things that she know will irritate her
She has avoided nightshades, corn, and low-quality dairy
This has made a huge difference and has allowed Stacy to feel great
(23:21) The Other Things
Everyone is starting to feel a bit homesick, but still appreciating the journey as they reach the halfway mark Santa Monica will be a great break for everyone
Stacy is separating from the group for a work event Matt and the boys are going to use this bit of time to relax
The other piece Stacy wants to mention about planning and being organized - clear bins
For short trips, Matt and Stacy typically use storage items they have around the house like paper bags or grocery tote bags However, for this particular trip, they invested in clear stacking bins that allows them to see what is in which bin
They simply open the trunk and can see where everything is at Before they left they measured out the space to see how the bins could fit and how many they could fit
Matt and Stacy also purchased a Turtle Topperwhich has been a great investment that has helped with their travels
The Turtle Toppercame with matching duffel bags that fit perfectly inside the storage container It is also very compact and hasn't impacted their ability to fit in garages
When it came to packing, this trip really forced the family to practice a minimalism mentality
Even when out exploring, when the boys want to buy something, Stacy challenges them to think about where the item would fit They packed for all weather types
Each family also packed two pairs of walking shoes and one pair of sandals
Since you can't get mail, you really need to plan ahead for what all you will need
You could potentially use an Amazon locker if you were to time your travels exactly right
Other clothing items:
Raincoats Hoodies Hats Sunglasses
A first aid kitwas also an incredibly important addition to their packing list
The snafu that happened with Finn that made Stacy feel like a supermom for packing the ultimate first aid kit
Being able to think on your toes, research and adapt are all important pieces that you will need while on the road Matt and Stacy also packed some key supplements (anti-gluten pill, activated charcoal, and probiotics)
Stacy asked Sarah to share more on the gluten enzymes she recommends and why
There are a few different varieties out there
The one Sarah keeps in her purse is Glutenza made my Numedica
It's not designed so that someone with celiac disease can eat a baguette, but it's designed to protect you against cross-contamination
It is also really good at breaking apart similar proteins in other high allergen foods
It is a sophisticated supplement and Sarah keeps a bottle of this in her purse at all times
It has been a lifesaver for her
Matt and Stacy have been happy to have this supplement on hand while traveling as well
Whenever they are in a home with a kitchen, the first thing Matt, Stacy and the boys do is meal plan for the exact amount of time they will be with a kitchen and stock up on food supplies They may pick one special place to eat out at but are otherwise trying to avoid eating out
Be sure to do your gluten-free research Read reviews
Stacy looks for details that show that they understand what it means to prepare gluten-free recipes
(50:28) Closing Thoughts
Matt and Stacy need to pack up and get ready to leave Las Vegas
They are heading to Joshua Tree National Park next
One of the things that Sarah wanted to mention is that many of the products that Matt and Stacy mentioned are actually sponsors of the show and offer exclusive deals to Paleo View listeners
Chomps
Chomps.com/ThePaleoView Coupon code: THEPALEOVIEW for 20% off and free shipping
Wild Zora
wildzora.com/thepaleoview Free Shipping and up to 30% off
Vital Proteins
https://www.vitalproteins.com/thepaleoview Exclusive bundles of Stacy's and Sarah's favorites are available through the link above
Pique Tea
piquetea.life/thepaleoview 28% off and free shipping
Thrive Probiotic
https://thriveprobiotic.com/thepaleoview 15% off with code PALEOVIEW15
Stacy and Sarah reach out to sponsors with products that they already use and genuinely love
These codes stay open - you can use them all the time Be sure to take advantage of these great deals!
Stacy thanked Sarah for sharing details on Glutenza right off the top of her head It was great to catch up again! Sarah and Stacy will be back again next week Special thanks to Matt for joining Stacy and Sarah for this week's show! And thank you to listeners for tuning in!