I just returned from a workshop on Ayurveda in Pennsylvania with a dear friend of mine. We decided we wanted to visit a few places on the way and so we drove. The ride was beautiful, and we were able to hike, and refuel on some soma from the moon and prana from the air, trees, and grass. I hadn’t been on a rode trip like that in some time. Over all, we had a blast!
We made a terrible mistake on the way out there though. We did not pack any food! Without thinking, we just assumed the convenience we have here in Chicago to get organic, fresh food would be shared across the country. We were terribly wrong.
At about noon we had been in the car for some time already, and we were getting hungry. We talked about how we should’ve packed food, and hopeful we would find something decent, we saw a sign for Panera. When we realized we talked through the exit, we thought there would be something like it in the near future. Unfortunately, it only got worse and worse and worse.
After an hour of stubbornly passing every fast food restaurant off I-80, we got off the expressway to scope out a small town in Ohio. I drove 10 minutes each way down the main road horrified by what I saw. Every fast food establishment known to mankind laid out before our eyes: Burger King, Park & Eat, Long John Silvers, Arbys, A&W, Subway, McDonalds, Wendy’s! The only independently owned restaurant we were able to find was a gyros joint and of course that wasn’t going to help. Can you imagine if this were the selection your community was faced with every day? While it is up to us as individuals to make good choices for our self and family, it is also our responsibility to care for those in our community. Seeing obese 10, 11 and 12 year olds should not be the norm as it seems to be in small town America.
Back on the expressway, and well into Pennsylvania we found a cute little Italian restaurant where we ordered some roasted vegetables, soup, and fresh mozzarella salad with homemade bread. It was 2:00 at this time and we were both crazed with hunger. This is a terrible thing to do in Ayurveda because it weakens the mind, distorts blood sugar levels and enhances cravings. After a walk, we sealed the deal with some locally made chocolate dipped strawberries. The chocolatiers were extremely kind, and we could tell their goods were made with pure love.
I can say, that I definitely have more empathy for my clients and friends who spend a lot of time on the road and are trying to live a balanced lifestyle. America can make it difficult. Especially in smaller towns where local economies have been crushed by corporate giants and local fares are virtually non-existent.
To make traveling easier, I thought of this list while wishing I had heeded to it somewhere in Ohio:
1. When possible pack food!
2. Bring fruits like pears, apples, bananas, raisins, dates and nuts.
3. Try to eat at regular times.
4. If traveling for extended periods eat at local restaurants where foods have a higher chance of being prepared freshly and handled with more love. Even if the food isn’t our idea of perfection, at least it will be enlivened with more prana and life, than fast food burgers and fries.
5. Whenever possible support the local economy. Choose the local diner over Perkins or other fast food chain establishments.
6. Remember to never eat while condemning what you consume. If you do decide to get a burger, fries and coke, bless it with thanks and enjoy! We also consume our thoughts when we eat, so choose positivity over self-condemnation or guilt. If negative thinking is to overwhelming to control, toss the burger and choose something else all together.
To Your Safe Travels,
Monica