This past month has been a whirlwind. Last week we happily invested several days at our county fair to cheer on grandkids who exhibited their livestock. That event came a week after driving across four states to help our youngest daughter move to a new job. And that followed a flight halfway across the country to attend a funeral for a dear family member.

If you think dietitians always eat perfectly, don’t bother to read this. Airports, gas stations and restaurants have a way of challenging the best intentions for all of us. So, based on recent personal experience, here’s my best advice for maintaining needed nourishment when life becomes a jumble of responsibilities.

First, stick to the basics. That means — whether you’re driving on a lonely stretch of road or packing a U-haul — make it your aim to eat three times a day … preferably morning, midday and evening. Early mornings cause my tummy to say “Not yet” to solid food. So that’s when I reach for a high protein nutrition drink with added vitamins and minerals.

For each meal of the day, experts generally tell us to consume 20 to 30 grams of protein (unless a medical condition limits your protein intake). If you’re a omnivore (you eat most anything), you’ll find 30 grams of high quality protein in a cooked 4-ounce portion of fish, chicken, beef or other meat.

Keep a look out for fruits, vegetables, nuts and other plant-based foods. Did you know that — besides being a storehouse of vitamins and minerals — vegetables and nuts also supply protein? Perhaps most importantly when days are rushed, plant foods are the sole source of dietary fiber to keep things running smoothly. Salad bar, anyone?

When you need to grab and go, don’t forget the convenience of yogurt, cheese, milk and other dairy foods. They provide essential protein, calcium and other minerals to nourish your bones and muscles.

Even when life is not perfect, our bodies can forgive our trespasses … to a point.

If it’s a fast food burger, get it with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. And if you’re in New Mexico, order it with green chile. Best vegetable ever.

It was 102 degrees on the day we helped our daughter load her belongings. About mid-afternoon, we took a well-needed break. I have to say, munching that tuna sandwich topped with spinach, pickles, lettuce and banana peppers in a cool sandwich shop made my body very, very happy.

Lastly, don’t forget the munchies when life gets crazy. Trail mix (nuts and dried fruit), popcorn (my addiction) and snack packs of cheese and crackers nourish a busy body when normal meals get delayed.

And now, we get to play and relax on a fun trip we planned a year ago. Let’s see if I can follow my own advice.

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