The Ultimate Guide to Staying KETO on Road Trips

I am just about to celebrate my 1 year Ketoversary (it’s a thing). WOOT – WOOT!! I have learned so much in this year about myself and how food affects me. It was hard in the beginning, and I still have times that are rough. But I now have great tricks and tips to help me stay Keto strong by eating keto-friendly foods always.

When I first began My Keto Journey, I spent a lot of time researching exactly WHAT I needed to eat. It was so confusing. Everyone would give you just a pinch of what you could eat, but not what a full day looked like. They all preached that each one of us are walking a different journey, and we have to find what works for us. OKAY. But HOW??

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I decided then and there, that if I ever figured it out, I was going to pass on my knowledge. If it works for you, then I have done my job. I am not a nutritionist or doctor. Nor am I an expert. I just know what worked for me. I wanted to share that with anyone that has questions of their own and want to start doing KETO. Use it as a guide and if it works, great. If not, at least you have a starting point and can tweak your own way of eating.

One of the tricks that I learned this past year eating Keto is how to eat Keto-friendly when on a road trip. Jason and I drive back and forth to the lake all of them time. Since hubs is stopping for drive thru food and gas station treats, I had to find what I could eat that wouldn’t throw me out of ketosis.

Real Life Research!

First of all, know this about me… I had a paper route for 8 years – AS AN ADULT. It was THEE most fun, crazy, tiring, ridiculous, job that I have ever had. I could write a book – or a post! I must say that I miss my route, and would do it again in a heartbeat – if Jason would let me.

The reason for telling you this is to say, I KNOW WHERE ALL OF THE LATE NIGHT DEALS AND BEST FOOD IN EVERY GAS STATION IN ST.LOUIS AND SURROUNDING AREAS ARE. When you have a route for 8 years, 365 days a year, all hours of the night, you sometimes eat to stay awake.

I would grab a bag of M&M’s and eat one per mile. I would ritually put it in my mouth, suck the candy shell until it was ever so thin, pop the shell with my teeth, and eat the chocolate inside. (Got the visual? Try it sometime. ;)) This took exactly one mile and believe it or not, helped me stay awake. Being so mindful probably saved my life a few times! Hmmmm, I wonder if this has anything to do with my eating habits, bingeing disorder, and weight problems?

How to Keep it Low Carb

Back to gas station food. Not all gas stations are alike and be thankful for that. Most of the food is terrible which always allows for poor choices. But for convenience purposes on road trips, unless you pack your own Snackle Box, you probably will be stopping for a bite to eat, gas, or restroom breaks. So here are a few Keto options when on road trips.

Gas Station Keto-friendly Food

• Jerky
• Almonds or Keto-friendly nuts
• Beef & Cheese Sticks
• Pepperoni Cheese sticks
• Cheese sticks/ Cheese cubes
• Hard boiled Eggs
• Cheesewiches (Salami/pepperoni in between 2 pieces of cheese)
• Pickles
• Hotdog (no bun)
• Quest Bar (warm up out of wrapper for 12 seconds – thanks Kayla!)
• Pork Rinds
• Water
• Diet Soda (but contain sweeteners that may cause you to crave sweets)
• Sparkling water (always check sweeteners on can)

Drive-thru Keto-friendly Food

Making your own food at home is always the way to go when you are on the Ketogenic Diet. Then you know EXACTLY what is going into your food. But when you are traveling and out and about, sometimes Fast Food is the only option.

No worries though, because you can find a keto-friendly food at almost any fast food place out there. Just remember – no bun, no ketchup, and NO FRIES!

Choosing fast food that fits into your low-carb diet can be a challenge. This is especially true when the diet is carb restricted. Having a list of Keto-friendly fast food options can help you stay in ketosis and keep your carbs low.

Mc Donald’s

• egg rounds, sausage, and cheese (order an extra patty and use as bun)
• egg folds, sausage and cheese (ditto)
• quarter pounder with cheese, no bun, no ketchup. add bacon and mayo
• double cheeseburger, no bun, no ketchup.
• artesian grilled chicken sandwich, no bun.
• grilled chicken salad, bring your own dressing or order a ranch dipping cup.

Taco Bell

• power bowl, no rice or beans, extra chicken, lettuce, and avocado ranch sauce. (MY FAVORITE)

Burger King

• double quarter burger, no bun, no ketchup
• whopper, no bun, no ketchup

Kentucky Fried Chicken

• Grilled Drumstick
• Original Fried Drumstick

Wendy’s

• Baconator, no bun, no ketchup

Sonic

• chili cheese dog with no buns or beans

Jimmy John’s

• “unwich” with any sandwich option. (It is wrapped in lettuce).

Chipotle

• Steak Salad (Romain Lettuce, Steak, Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa, Sour Cream, Cheese) 
• Burrito Bowl (Chicken, Fajita Vegetables, Romain Lettuce, Sour Cream, Cheese)

I hope these ideas will come in handy on your next road trip. Stay Keto strong and happy Keto-ing!! ~Susie Peas.