Felix sits against the living-room wall, his head pounding. The mushroom trip started off well, but shortly after taking the mushrooms an unpleasant nausea sets in. His stomach feels bloated and stretched after the heavy (American) pancake breakfast he ate that morning.
As the trip intensifies, Felix can’t focus on his original intentions around self-reflection. The physical discomfort is too much of a distraction. He shifts position, hoping his upset stomach will settle.
Felix’s trusted tripsitter brings him ginger tea to calm his stomach. “Maybe eat something lighter before the trip next time,” he gently suggests.
Felix sighs, disappointed in himself. As an experienced psychonaut, he knows that good nutritional fuel is crucial for an intense trip. But this morning’s breakfast choice is now keeping him from journeying deeper. Lesson learned.
After that experience, Felix decided to be more mindful and to plan his pre-trip meals deliberately. By consciously fuelling his body, he made sure he could fully immerse himself in future psychedelic journeys without distraction. If you want a smoother ride overall, it also helps to read up on preparing for a trip well in advance.
Dialling In Pre-Trip Meals Through Experience
Felix considers himself an experienced psychonaut, after dozens of safe mushroom, LSD and 2C-B trips over the past decade. He prepares carefully, both physically and mentally, for his journeys.
However, dialling in the optimal pre-trip diet has been an ongoing process of experimentation for Felix. He has had both positive and negative experiences trying out different nutritional routines before psychedelic trips.
In his early years, Felix didn’t pay much attention to his pre-trip meals. He once ate an enormous burrito before taking mushrooms, which made for an uncomfortably bloated trip. Another time he fasted for 24 hours before the trip but felt exhausted and distracted by hunger throughout.
Over time, and through trial and error, Felix learned which foods best fuelled his body and mind for a psychedelic journey. He now shares his wisdom so that others can optimise their nutrition in advance and avoid discomfort.
While there is no perfect regimen, a few nutritional principles can help you begin the trip with physical energy and mental focus. Let’s go through the do’s and don’ts.
Eating Too Much Beforehand Causes Discomfort
It’s unwise to pack in a lot of heavy, fatty food right before a trip.
One of Felix’s most important lessons was overeating before a psychedelic session. He used to always eat a huge amount beforehand, thinking he was “loading up” on fuel. But this often backfired.
Felix remembers a truffle (mushroom) trip where he ate a full pancake (the fluffy kind) an hour beforehand. When the effects kicked in, his stomach felt painfully bloated and stretched.
Instead of journeying inward, Felix spent a large part of the trip soothing his churning stomach. The physical discomfort was extraordinarily disruptive and unpleasant.
He knows that taking in a lot of heavy, fatty food right before a trip is unwise. Digestion diverts blood flow and energy away from the effects on body and mind. You want to avoid feeling heavy or nauseous when the experience begins.
Sticking to light, clean meals lets you fully immerse yourself in the psychedelic headspace without distraction. Overeating may fill you up temporarily, but it will cause discomfort later.
Fasting Can Also Be Distracting
All Felix could hear was his stomach loudly growling.
On the other hand, Felix has also learned that starting a trip in a completely fasted state can be just as distracting. Psychedelics demand a lot of energy and stamina from body and mind.
Felix remembers an LSD trip where he ate nothing the entire day before. When the trip began, all he could focus on was the gnawing hunger in his belly.
Instead of soothing instrumental music guiding him inward, all Felix heard was his stomach loudly growling. He felt exhausted and slightly irritated throughout the entire experience.
This doesn’t mean fasting is always unwise, of course. Some people fast intentionally for 1 to 3 days before psychedelics to intensify and speed up the effects. An empty stomach offers no resistance.
But for most psychedelic journeys, having some nourishing fuel in your system helps ensure you have energy reserves to fall back on. Fasting can make the trip bumpier and more draining.
A Small Meal Provides Nourishment
Eat a small, clean meal 2 to 3 hours before a trip.
Through experimentation, Felix has discovered that eating a small, clean meal 2 to 3 hours before the trip provides optimal nourishment without making you feel heavy.
His go-to pre-trip meal is (soy) yoghurt with fruit, pumpkin seeds and muesli. The yoghurt fills his stomach, the fruit provides antioxidants, the seeds deliver protein, and the muesli gives steady energy.
This simple combo gives Felix’s body the nutrients and fuel it needs, without overloading his digestion. He feels satisfied but light.
Foods like smoothies, oatmeal or toast with peanut butter also work well. Avoid heavy, fatty foods like burgers or pizza that sit heavily in your stomach. Keep it light but substantial.
By eating a modest, nourishing meal, Felix prevents hunger pangs from distracting him once the trip begins. He goes into the experience feeling fuelled and ready to journey inward.
Hydration Beforehand Is Crucial
Avoid diuretics like alcohol and caffeine.
Being well hydrated is also crucial for a psychedelic journey. These substances cause fluid loss through digestion, temperature changes and breathing. Optimal hydration prevents headaches, cramps or distraction later on.
Felix drinks plenty of water and electrolyte drinks like coconut water starting the day before. He avoids diuretics like caffeine and alcohol that dehydrate him.
On the morning of the trip, Felix drinks a large glass of electrolyte water to make sure his cells are properly hydrated. He keeps taking small sips until the journey begins.
Hydrating well beforehand minimises physical discomfort during the trip. For the practical side of the day itself, our guides on what to pack as trip essentials and comfortable clothing tips pair nicely with getting your nutrition right.
[this story is a combination of experiences from our coaching clients (and ourselves in this case), told through the eyes of Felix, one of the characters who explain psychedelics through stories]
3 Examples of Light Meals
These are three example meals you can eat before a psychedelic trip. Otherwise, eat whatever feels best to you, and keep the tips we just discussed in mind.
1. Yoghurt Delight
Ingredients:
- 1 cup plain or Greek yoghurt (or a plant-based alternative)
- A handful of mixed berries (such as blueberries, strawberries and raspberries)
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
- 2-3 tablespoons muesli (preferably with no added sugar)
- Optional: a little honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness
Instructions:
- Start with the yoghurt in a bowl.
- Spread the mixed berries evenly on top.
- Sprinkle the pumpkin seeds and granola over it.
- Finish with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup if you like.
2. Energising Banana Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup almond milk (or another (non-)dairy milk)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon almond or peanut butter
- A handful of spinach (for a green boost and extra minerals)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of cinnamon
- Ice cubes (optional)
Instructions:
- Combine all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy it right away.
3. Nourishing Oatmeal Bowl
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup water or milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed or chia seeds
- A handful of dried fruit (such as raisins, apricots or dates)
- 1/2 apple, diced
- A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg
- Optional toppings: nuts (such as walnuts or almonds), a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, and/or a dollop of almond or peanut butter
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, bring the water or milk to a boil.
- Add the rolled oats and turn the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the oats have absorbed most of the liquid and are creamy.
- Stir in the flaxseed or chia seeds, dried fruit and diced apple.
- Once cooked, transfer to a bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Add the optional toppings to taste and enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eating Before a Psychedelic Trip
A small, clean meal 2 to 3 hours beforehand is ideal — think yoghurt with fruit and seeds, a fruit smoothie, or oatmeal. You want something light but nourishing that fuels you without sitting heavily in your stomach. Avoid heavy, fatty foods like burgers or pizza.
You don’t have to. Some people fast for 1 to 3 days to intensify and speed up the effects, but for most journeys a little nourishing fuel keeps you from being distracted by hunger. If you’re new to it, a light meal a few hours before is usually the gentler choice.
Gentle, easy-to-digest foods work best as you come down — fresh fruit, a smoothie, soup, or a small bowl of oatmeal. Sip water or coconut water to rehydrate, and go easy on caffeine and alcohol. Listen to your body and eat when you feel ready.
It’s usually best to keep eating to a minimum during the peak, since digestion can pull you out of the experience and many people feel some nausea. If you do feel hungry, keep it tiny and light — a few berries, a little fruit, or ginger tea to settle the stomach. Save the bigger meal for the comedown.
Planning a Guided Journey?
At FLO Coaching, we help you prepare your body and mind so you can step into your journey feeling calm, fuelled and fully present. Book a free, no-obligation intro call to talk through your intentions with Floris or Lotte.
