Traveling Healthy can be a complete and utter disaster challenge! There are so many enticing fast food signs and restaurants offered on the way to your final destination, that it’s almost laughable to try to eat healthy! But what if you’re traveling to Florida, state of sunshine, palm trees and beaches? You most certainly don’t want to get there all bloated, uncomfortable, with the clothes too tight! I find weight gain not as disastrous, as I do find the discomfort of it. I’m not saying you can’t wear a bikini (because heck you’re fabulous just the way you are), but I know I don’t feel like hitting the beach after eating a large order of fries, a large coke and a double hamburger. Fast food makes my brain foggy, my stomach bloat (sorry for the tmi) and my energy significantly decrease. Similarly, I don’t want to go on vacation and return home not feeling as good as when I had left.
I love traveling so much, and I do my best to make healthy choices (though the occasional dessert does slip in), but it’s not easy. Here are my few tips how to travel healthy:
- Pack healthy snacks. Depending on how long you’re stuck in a car/bus/train, for the first day it’s always good to pack some healthy food. If you’re traveling by car, take a cooler with you and fill it with fresh fruit, veggies, trail mix, nuts, and whatever else you can think of!
- Research healthy restaurants wherever you are staying at. Before we go anywhere, I always research healthy restaurants on the way or near our hotel. My favourite search engine for that is www.happycow.net.
- Get a hotel room with a kitchen. If you have a kitchen, you’re more in control of what you will eat. You can fix your own meals, don’t have to worry about anything going bad, and can avoid going out to eat all the time, where you might be tempted with oversized portions and greasy food.
- Find the closest health food store to your hotel. If you have a hotel room with a kitchen, this is especially important! Find a Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or other health food store close by so you can make great choices while you’re staying in your hotel. Many health food stores also offer a hot bar or a salad bar. Often you can find great, nutritious options there!
- Drink lots of water! This might be a bit tedious when traveling, because the more you drink the more ehem rest stops you have to make if driving. On the other hand, drinking lots of water is extremely important. It keeps you full, it’s necessary for glowy skin, and helps with your metabolism. There are great jugs you can purchase to go along on your trip.
- Before going to a restaurant, look at the menu online first and choose what you’re going to eat. Sometimes it’s not necessary that you go to a health-oriented restaurant, but that you just make a decision on what you’re going to have before hand. Look at the menu online, find something you feel good about eating and commit to it. It’s easier to then avoid eating that additional bread pudding or pizza, when you’ve already decided on the grilled salmon with vegetables and rice.
- Make sure to move! While driving, this might be difficult, though I have been on occasion the crazy person doing squats in the bathroom stall. No one can see you there, and you’re getting some movement in. Othertimes, I’ll just make sure to get a quick workout in before the trip. I’m not saying hit the gym religiously every single day. That’s not what traveling is about! All I’m saying is, move while you’re having fun! Go to a state park and go for a walk, or go to the zoo where you’re walking anyway. Or, peruse a city and go sight seeing on foot! Go for a bike ride or a boat ride! There are so many ways you can be active while traveling, and if you’re traditional then you can always stick to the good old-fashioned fitness centre your hotel offers.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. This is probably one thing I should do more often, as well. When you’re traveling, your number one priority most likely isn’t going to be creating the sleekest body. You’re looking to have fun, see something you’ve never seen before and maybe even learn something new! So indulge in something, when you want and don’t beat yourself up about it! Just make sure you’re still making you and feeling your best a priority!
I hope these helped!
Where are you going on vacation next, and what are your traveling tips for staying healthy on the road?
Love,
Maxi
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