🍎 How To Have a Healthy San Diego Comic Con

Liz Jones from Fitabolize here in San Diego gives us Comic Con attendees some tips on how to have a healthy San Diego Comic Con!  Liz has two Bachelor of Science Degrees in Exercise Science and Nutrition Dietetics.  If you are located here in San Diego check her out!

Megan:  With all the walking people will be doing at SDCC, what are the best snacks to pack in our bags to keep our energy up?

Liz:  The best snacks don't have to be refrigerated, won't spoil if they are being tossed around in your bag all day, and give you lots of energy. I suggest choosing 3-4 of these to snack on each day between meals so that you don’t get bored with the same old snacks and keep your energy up.

Apple and Raw Nuts - This is a great snack to throw in your bag. The apple has sugar that gives you energy and water to hydrate you. By eating the apple with the nuts that have protein and healthy fats you will balance out your blood sugar levels so you won’t have a sugar crash.

Raw Energy Bars – Eating raw food gives you a ton more vitamins and minerals. Your body needs these to give you energy so you can function at an optimal level. When you think about foods that give you energy, the first ones that come to mind are sugary ones. However, eating more healthy fats like the nuts and seeds in these bars will give you a ton of energy. Here is the link to those Raw Energy Bars.

Nutritional Bars – Now, I know that not everyone has time or wants to cook those bars above so places like Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, and Whole Foods have great choices for energy bars. Choose bars with a balance of protein, carbs, and fat. I personal like Larabars because there are lots of delicious flavors and they are raw so you get more vitamins and minerals versus choosing the bars that are baked. If you like getting a good deal, you can order nutritional bars online. My husband loves these bars.

Meal Replacement Shakes – These shakes have a balance of protein, fat, and carbs. All you’ve got to do is add water and shake it up in your Blender Bottle. Some meal replacement shakes come already prepared as an RTD (ready to drink), these can get a bit heavy when you a lugging 2-3 around all day. So I suggest putting a serving in a Ziplock bag, then rinse and reuse the same Blender Bottle all day. You can even use the Blender Bottle to hold water. You can get meal replacement shakes pretty much at every grocery or supplement store. Again, I buy mine online because I like a good deal and these do not have any extra added chemicals or sugar that will deplete your energy and make you crash.

  

Megan: Besides water, is there anything else we should/could be drinking to keep us hydrated?

Liz: Hmmm, water is the best thing to drink for hydration, but unsweetened Coconut water is another great for hydration. Sprouts and Whole Foods small containers so as you drink them you lighten the load in your bag. Most people think we're educated to drink Gatorade, an electrolyte sports drink for hydration however it is loaded with sugar and salt which will slow you down and actually dehydrate you.   

Megan: What is the minimum amount of sleep we attendees need to help us feeling good through the long days and nights of SDCC?

Liz: I suggest getting 8 hours of sleep per night to feel fresh during the long days, however I know that I’ve been to events that last all day then went to the after parties and it is very challenging to get 8 hours of sleep. So try to get the most you can. Choose a hotel near the convention center. You will pay a higher price but won’t have to drive 30-60 min away there and back. By doing this you get an extra 2 hours of sleep per night. Also, I know that you may be cramming into a room or sleeping on the floor this is going to affect your sleep. So just share a room with a few people and ask them what their sleep habits are. If someone is snoring then they may keep you up all night then you will be miserable and exhausted the following day.

Megan: Almost everyone at SDCC will be eating out 2 or even 3 meals a day, what are some tips on eating right in a restaurant?  Do you have any suggestions for Gaslamp or Downtown eateries?

Liz: Breakfast – Make breakfast your biggest meal of the day. Fill up on protein…veggie omelet or quiche will fuel your body and will repair your sore muscles from walking around the day before. Many hotels give you breakfast however, watch out for the sugary carbs because they will slow you down. If you are running late and don’t have time to eat breakfast, add milk or soymilk to your coffee to give you some extra protein and grab a piece of fruit.  

Lunch – Make lunch your second biggest meal of the day. Choose a turkey sandwich with whole wheat bread with a side salad. You will be able to find this at pretty much every restaurant. But since you are in San Diego, try Yellow Tail fish tacos. They are the bomb! The closest place to find them by the Convention Center is at Tin Fish, however they are normally packed out so you may have to wait a bit for a table.

Dinner – Make dinner your smallest meal of the day then have a little snack from the list above a few hours later. The day is almost over so eating a giant meal will just slow you down the following day. Choose a salad with protein like fish, chicken, or steak and 1 carb for the meal that means an alcoholic drink, french fries, bread, or dessert. By choosing 1 you will not have a carb attack that will make you sluggish and tired. There are so many delicious restaurants in Gas Lamp. I suggest using YELP to find restaurants in your price range and that have the food you are craving. YELP or FourSquare will also tell you which places have deals where you can get a discount or something free with your meal.    

Megan: Any last tips to help attendees have a healthy SDCC?

Liz: Stretch - Each morning and evening take 5 min to stretch or do yoga. You can find a bunch of YouTube videos with Sun Salutation A and B poses. With all the walking around your body will be achy and sore. I know when I go to big events I don’t feel like working out so stretching or doing yoga is best.   

Wear comfortable shoes! - The worst thing to do is to wear a new pair of shoes and get blisters on day one.  I suggest wearing tennis shoes. I know that you are in San Diego so everyone wears flip flops but there are a ton of people and watch out from getting your feet stepped on.

Enjoy the Moment – This is a super fun event so enjoy every moment with your friends and family. Have your camera ready at all times so you can capture a quick pic or video. Last year, I met new friends and had fun taking pics with people in super elaborate costumes.

Comment below if you have any additional questions about San Diego Comic Con. You can also check out our San Diego Comic Con Guide for more useful tips and tricks!  If this post helped you, share please share it with your friends!