Whether you are travelling for a day, a week, or months, it is essential to be prepared in order to not put your health on standby. Airports, cars, and unfamiliar situations can have a massive impact on how you eat, which can in turn make or break a holiday if it leaves you to turn to junky processed food. Here's 6 tips to keep you on track regardless of where you are travelling.
1. Be Prepared
Research, research, research. Google is an amazing source of finding places to eat in the area you are visiting. Read reviews and don't be afraid to ask what you want for when you visit restaurants. Or, if you are like me and parting ways with your blender for the week seems frighteningly impossible then don't (I like to take a small portable one). Take things with you that will make your days away easier and will help you stay on track with your eating habits. For me I usually travel with a massive trail mix (nuts, seeds, and dried fruit), emergency cans of chickpeas, chia seeds (to make quick chia puddings for snack or meals), fruit, veggies, a stash of mixed herbal teas, superfoods, and powders such as SuperGreens, Cacao, and Maca to keep me feeling revitalised and energised when I need it.
Also planning where you stay can be incredibly helpful - sourcing places to stay that allow you somewhere to cook for yourself can be a godsend when you crave your own food!
2. Take a break from your everyday routine but not from your health
Treat your time away as time away from your everyday routine: work, cleaning, chores, etc. But don't see it as a free card to eat whatever you want and be physically inactive. What you put in your body has a huge impact on how you feel (there's nothing worse than being away and feeling off or feeling sick and bloated from eating things that you normally wouldn't). However, this does not mean you can't indulge in treats (see them as treats and enjoy them as TREATS, not as additions to all meals) or have fun.
Travelling and change is all about being flexible and enjoying yourself, so find ways to incorporate exercise into your travelling (or moving) experience - see sights by foot or bike, go on hikes, swim, and PLAY!
3. Be Plane and Airport Smart
If you need to go by plane my best tips are this: try as best as possible to refrain from eating the airplane food, and refrain from eating as often as they feed you. I know personally how terrible my digestive system has felt in the past when you eat the large amount of food that is frequently offered to you. Further, the incredibly long ingredient list almost requires a science degree to interpret the additives and preservatives, and is the reason why that food lasts so long and barely resembles "food." Take snacks, and powders (like above) to make quick nourishing drinks, and take a few prepared meals in containers (such as quinoa and roasted veggies, salads, fruit, chia puddings, nuts and nut butters, chopped veggies and hummus). You that you can take them on the plane - I have done it numerous times - as long as they are not liquid based meals and snacks (e.g. no soup, smoothies, or drinks). BUT if you are flying internationally they will make you finish or throw out your food before you get off the plane.
It is also essential to stay hydrated as plane travel can be very stressful on the body and your digestive system. Seeing as you can't take liquids through customs take an empty bottle with you and have it re-filled throughout your flight (and make sure you continue to stay hydrated when you land especially if you are indulging in a few alcoholic beverages).And lastly, the air quality on planes is not the best and usually makes me all stuffy in the nose. Use essential oils such as lavender to calm you down and help you sleep, and then use oils such as peppermint oil to refresh you and wake you up.
Wear comfy and warm clothes to ensure you are comfortable and make sure you move and stretch on planes. Nothing worse than being cramped up and stiff, or even worse getting Deep Vein Thrombosis!
4. Wash your Hands
Our mothers weren't wrong when they told us to wash our hands as children. If you are travelling somewhere or being exposed to areas where there are a large influx of different people and bugs then make sure you wash your hands regularly (especially before eating & after the loo!)
5. Get grounded
Travelling and moving can throw the body out of whack and leave you feeling stressed and worn down if you aren't careful. Make sure you take time to get grounded by doing simple things such as walking barefoot, watching the sunrise or sunset, and taking time to rest and relax. Travel should be exciting and not stressful so always remember to sleep, exercise, and even meditate (if that's part of your wellness practice).
6. Choose your travel buddy wisely
This one is pretty self explanatory. If someone you are travelling with has different health goals or eating habits than you do, do not feel obliged to sacrifice your health for someone else. Just let them know you may eat a little different or want to eat somewhere different, and that is OKAY!!!
Go enjoy yourselves stress free and have fun whilst not sacrificing your health. Enjoy.
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