The thought of traveling when you're just starting out on keto can be kind of intimidating. The keto diet is easiest (and best) to do as a primarily whole foods based diet. That means that you're primarily dealing with real food and not food products. The downside? Real food has a shelf life. Real food needs to be refrigerated, frozen, or cooked before enjoying.

That said, it's totally possible to still have a fulfilling social life, take a trip and relax and still stay true to your keto commitment. You just have to plan ahead.

Recently, I took my first every girls trip with a very dear friend of mine and some of her closest buddies. We visited Fredricksburg, TX and toured some of the local restaurants and wineries. It was an amazing time and I enjoyed every minute of it - even though no one else in the group was on the keto diet!

Here are my tips for planning ahead so you can stay keto on your next vacation:

Tip #1: Ask for Support

A lot of people cut themselves off from the support of their friends when they're on a diet because they're afraid of what their reactions might be. Maybe your afraid of being an imposition on everyone else or getting into a conversation that you're not quite ready to have.

Whatever the reason, the sooner you can shake these feelings of insecurity and move forward to asking confidently and unapologetically for their help, the better off you'll be. Making the decision to go low-carb is a lifestyle choice. You can't give yourself an out by keeping your goals and commitments tucked away. If your friends are really your friends, they'll rally around you and be supportive. After all, you're doing this for your health and if your friends can't be supportive of you trying to be more healthy - are they really your friends at all?

Even with people who might be casual acquaintances, you might be pleasantly surprised with the response you get. Two of the amazing ladies I spent the weekend with on this trip I had never met before. But they were so inquisitive and supportive and I feel being honest about my goals up front accelerated and strengthened our relationship.

Tip #2: Pack Some Snacks

There are a few snacks that travel well that are totally keto friendly. Seaweed, nuts, cheese crisps and our family's favorite - pork cracklings! There are even some bars made with keto friendly ingredients that are good in a pinch.

Don't forget about the amazingly satiating properties of bulletproof coffee. MCT oil travels well, and you can easy pack your own sweetener. Starbucks even has heavy cream readily on hand (they use it to make their whipped cream) so don't be afraid to ask!

Tip #3: Shop and Cook

This may not apply to all vacations, but if you're just chilling at an Air BnB sometimes it can be a great bonding activity to buy some groceries at a nearby store and cook together. Everyone can pick their own stuff and you can stock up on keto friendly food without inconveniencing anyone else. Plus, it's so much cheaper than eating out and you get higher quality food.

That reminds me though...

Tip #4: Bring a Cooler

Invest in a good cooler. We love our Yeti Roadie 20 because of its small form factor and the fact that it can keep things cool for days, even in sweltering heat. The flexibility that a good cooler gives you in terms of what foods you can bring and pick up while on vacation is well worth the price tag.

Tip #5: Bend the Rules, Don't Break Them

There will be alcohol. There will be desserts. This will always be true on vacation. If you're going to drink, stay away from mixed drinks and stick with the harder stuff like whiskey or vodka. If you're looking for a mixer, pack some La Croix or Zevia. Some wines are fairly low carb as well and can be ok if you limit yourself to 1-2 glasses. Just make sure you stick to your overall macros for the day.

Plan for desserts. On my trip, one of the ladies was having a birthday so you know that cake was coming. I packed some Lily's Dark Cholocate specifically for this purpose and man did it come in handy! I was able to completely stick to my macros on that day. Crisis averted.

Tip #6 Stick to the Proteins

If you do end up eating out, the great thing about keto is that you can eat basically anywhere as long as you stick to the proteins, watch out for hidden sugars in sauces and pair your meal with leafy greens or cruciferous veggies. It's so much easier to find common ground on keto than it is with other more restrictive (read: less sustainable) diets.