The Sunny Side Up Recipes

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Travel Survival Kit

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With Memorial Day coming up on Monday (how did that happen so fast?!) a lot of us will be going on trips this weekend to celebrate the beginning of summer, which always begs the question: how do I possibly stay healthy while traveling?? Here are some of my favorite tips, including what I like to pack in my travel bag, to keep you on track this week!

First, here’s a little spread of some things I’m bringing on my next trip! How cute is this  monogrammed bag?

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Monogrammed Tote Bag: Mud pie

Now for the best part….the snacks! I love arugula in the summer for its light, peppery flavor, so this is a simple  lunch salad I threw together with alfalfa sprouts, radish, and zucchini with lemon for garnish:

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Make your own trail mix is also really fun 🙂  Pumpkin/sunflower seeds, dried apricot, dark chocolate chips, and  hazelnuts would all be great additions to this!

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P.S. These cute little jars are 1.5 oz so it’s just the right amount!

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Healthy Travel 101: The Basics

Bring your own snacks. I have a general rule that I try not to buy food at the airport whenever possible since the options are usually super unhealthy (read: fried) and are always incredibly pricey for what you get. I’d much rather save that money and spend it on a nice meal or souvenir once I get to my destination! Some alternatives so you can build your own travel snack pack:

  • NatureBox snacks: NatureBox is a monthly subscription service for healthy snacks tailored to your tastes, and believe me guys, it’s EPIC. My favorites are their pistachio power clusters, Greek yogurt covered pretzels, and dried fruits. You can try out a free trial (!) here.

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  • PaleoKrunch Cereal:  For those of you looking for a paleo or gluten-free option, this is it! I’m beyond addicted to their granola, especially the cranberry and apple pie flavors. Their granola is a little sweet, but I love that it’s made with all-natural ingredients like almond meal, coconut oil, and tons of nuts and seeds for minerals and fiber.

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  • Tea Bags: You can always get unlimited hot water in-flight, so I really like to bring my own tea bags along with me to stay hydrated. Peppermint, chamomile, and ginger are my favorites because they settle your stomach, especially since your digestion can easily become off when you’re travelling and around so many foreign foods and experiences.
  • Other Snack Ideas:  Beet humus and carrots/crudites, almond snack packs, string cheese. fruit, and almond butter are some of my other favorites! If you’re worried about portion control or mess, Justin’s peanut butter/almond butter squeeze packs are amazing. Still needs more ideas? Check out my last post on homemade kale chips and sweet potato fries (teaser: they both take under 5 minutes to make)

Hydrate. Your mom probably said this to you all the time growing up (I know mine did), but it really does help to keep you feeling energized and to prevent colds! I don’t like drinking water but occasionally throw lemon, mint, cucumber, orange slices, or whatever else I have on hand to my water bottle to stay up on my water before and after flights.

Relax and meditate. Lavender essential oils are a really wonderful and natural way to de-stress (because we all know that travelling can get stressful sometimes!) and fall asleep for long trips. Deep breathing also helps to calm the nervous system and shut out the world around you so you can get some z’s.

Safe travels!

Dupont Circle Farmer’s Market: What’s in Season?

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One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the farmer’s market with my family after church every Sunday morning. We all have our favorite vendors, from the strawberry stand to the Greek market, and there’s something so special about building that community and getting to see where and how your food has been grown.

Even though I no longer live in California, I still go to the Dupont Farmer’s market each week and thought I’d share some of my favorite vendors here in DC as well as answer some of your questions about summer produce.

PEONIES

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Q: What’s In Season Right Now (this one goes out to you, Q!)? 

Here are a few of my favorite varieties of summer produce:

May: Apricots, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli Rabe, Chard, Kale/Lettuce, Mushrooms, Ramps, Radishes

June: Avocados, Blueberries, Nectarines, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Salad Greens, Sugar & Snap Peas

Q: Who are the best vendors in DC?

Spring Valley Farm & Orchard: The best diversity of seasonal produce–right now I love their apples and ramps, which are a cross between a leek and a scallion.

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Sunnyside Farm and Orchard: They have amazing pre-prepared soups, dips, and salads. My favorite is their lentil salad with sweet potato with kale and their homemade beet hummus.

Soupergirl: They have the best vegan soups in town! I love their Armenian lentil soup that uses dried apricot for a hint of added sweetness.

 

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Chris’ Marketplace: They have hands down one of the best summer gazpacho’s I’ve ever had, but their Maryland crab cakes are also delicious if you want a treat.

Chaia Farm to Taco: If you’re in the mood for lunch, they make the best vegetarian tacos using homemade tortillas and fresh, natural ingredients like greens and pickled lemon. My favorite is the creamy roasted potato with pickled onions, although the market mushroom and 5 greens ones are also incredible.

 

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Q: I love the idea of fresh produce, but how can I shop at the FM every week without emptying out my wallet every time? 

1. Plan ahead. Go with a shopping plan and try to stick to it! It also helps to build relationships with the vendors you like, who might give you a discount or throw in some extra produce every now and then

2.  Buy in bulk. When you find something you love (spring strawberries are my favorite!), you can almost always freeze your fruit to carry you through the next season.

3. Bring cash and  small bills. Not only will this help you spend less, but  it’ll make checking out easier for both you and the vendor

4. Shop at closing. While some stands might be picked over by closing, vendors usually prefer to discount what’s left rather than taking it home

5. Invest in a farm share. This is a little different, but I love getting a farm share each week! I use a service called From the Farmer. and for $35/week, they’ll bring a basket filled with 6-8 super fresh fruits and vegetables to your doorstep. All of the produce is farmed locally in Virginia and they’ll even include instructions on how to store everything and suggested recipes. They’ll also throw in fresh eggs and bread. It’s so much fun and a great way to support a local business while trying some new produce that you wouldn’t try otherwise.