This year has been full of traveling! A long vacation in Italy, a couple quick weekend trips here and there, a long vacation out West, and a another handful of quick weekend trips to visit family and friends! While all this traveling has been a blast, being on the go can tire you out... especially when your normal eating, sleeping, and exercising routines get thrown off. Here are my top tips for staying healthy while traveling so you will be prepared for your next trip!
Nutrition Tip Tuesday: Healthy Travel Tips
Tip #1: Pack your fave healthy foods in your checked bag!!
Especially if you are going to be traveling for a long period of time (more than a week) and may be without a refrigerator or far away from a local grocery store! This way you will have your trusty healthy snacks to help you resist the temptations when hanger strikes while on vacation. Some of my favorites include whole food protein bars (i.e. Rx Bars, Rise Bars, Square Bars), snack pack almonds or cashews, Gluten Free oatmeal to-go cups, Gluten Free snack bars (i.e. Lara Bars and Nature's Path), PB2 and single-serve nut butter packets, and all-natural turkey jerky sticks!
Tip #2: Bring some of your healthy meals and snacks with you on the road or on the airplane in your carry-on bag.
This will make traveling easier, since you won't need to make several pit stops when hunger strikes on the road, and makes it easier to resist the Aunty Annie's or Ben & Jerry's Shops that are "conveniently located" next to your gate. I always try to pack a winning combination of snacks to fill me up and give me the energy and nutrients I need to stay healthy while traveling. My favorite combination for long car rides is a dried fruit with nuts or cheese and a all-natural turkey jerky bar, which can all be purchased at most larger gas station convenience stores, or I bring a cooler in the car with me that will keep my healthy pre-made food cold! You can also make a nut butter and jelly sandwich and snack on some raw carrots and whole grain crackers and hummus while on the road.
When I am flying, I buy a bottle of water once I am through security and I bring a container of PB2 to mix up once at my gate since. I love to eat my PB2 with a Perfect Bar (or other meal-replacement whole food bar) for longer lasting fullness since airport food is less than ideal and usually makes me feel sick during the flight. This little carry-on meal is a great combination of healthy fats, clean carbohydrates, and protein to help keep me full during the flight, plus the Perfect Bars are loaded with vitamins and minerals to it's like I am eating a salad without the mess!
Tip #3: Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!!
Flying can make you quite dehydrated if you do not consciously make an effort to drink water before, during, and after your flight. Liquid restrictions and high airport prices on bottle water can make it challenging to drink enough water when traveling, and this can leave you feeling bloated, lethargic, and completely out of energy. To combat the negative effects of flying, be sure to purchase a large bottle of water before you board your plane and drink 6-8 cups of water throughout the day! Afterall, our bodies are made of nearly 60% and we need enough hydration to function at optimal levels!
Another Perfect Bar to the rescue at the airport, accompanied by 34oz of water!!
Tip #4: Plan out what you will order at the best local restaurants BEFORE you go!
Now, I am all about tasting the unique local flavors and thoroughly enjoying your visit with good food and company... but I highly recommend looking at the menu ahead of time and deciding on a what you will order to avoid making hasty decisions and selecting what someone else ordered! Even better, order an appetizer and a meal and share it with a friend to get the taste of the land without overdoing it!
One of my favorite meals in Italy!! Fresh Catch of the Day with Potatoes and Roasted Red Peppers ... My husband and I shared a Caprese Salad and this dinner for two - it was healthy, delicious, and filling!
Those are my top tips for healthy traveling and I hope that these little tid bits will be very helpful for your next trip! Whether it will be for business or pleasure, I think you will be pleasantly pleased with how you feel when you stick to your healthy meals and snacks while traveling!