Planning ahead and being prepared goes a long way to staying on track with your healthy lifestyle when you are traveling. Traveling is typically out of the daily routine for most people. Many times we are on the run and following a schedule, and it always seems easier to grab something on the road, or at the airport on travel days. Unfortunately, many of the options available to the average consumer are typically not very healthy. I like to set myself up for success with my nutrition to nourish and support my body when going on vacation.
When most of us are on vacation, we like to allow ourselves food/drink items, that you would normally not consume on a daily basis at home. It is important to give ourselves grace, and enjoy these “treats” while doing something out of our normal life, while allowing them in moderation on vacation. To treat yourself at every meal with an alcoholic drink and/or a non compliant meal, would eventually add up in calories and inflammation. I suggest enjoying certain moments throughout vacation consuming what you desire, and then also maintaining balance with other food and drink items that you have purchased or brought with you.
Many times my husband and I choose to stay at an AirBnb instead of a hotel so we have a kitchen to cook in for some of our meals. We do love to treat ourselves when on vacation, but it’s also nice to not treat ourselves every meal while we are on vacation. If hotels are your travel game, then at least load up on some healthier snacks like fruit, nuts, bars, yogurts, and waters for your room. It’s helpful to stop at a grocery store at the beginning of your vacation to pick up snacks, drinks, and/or food to cook for your vacation. Making sandwiches for your travel day is great whether road tripping or flying on a plane. If you happen to be flying to your destination and road tripping from there, I suggest packing a foldable cooler or buying a disposable one at your destination for your trip.
My favorite travel snacks for road trips or air travel are listed below:
- bars – RX, Lara, Thunderbird are some of my favorite grain free brands
- cut up veggies like celery, bell peppers, cucumbers, baby carrots
- cherry tomatoes
- grapes, bananas, apples, cherries
- jerky (no sugar added) – Chomps, Nicks Sticks,
- nuts (dry roasted or raw)
- dried fruit (no added sugars)
- chocolate bar – Hu, Blue Stripe, Bronners
- granola – Purely Elizabeth, Paleonola, Grandy Organics
- yogurts (no sugar added) – Harmless Harvest, Culina, Laava
- seltzers and water (no added sugar)
- olives
- hard boiled eggs
- cured meats (no sugar added)
- healthier chips like Siete – cooked in non seed oils
- crackers like Simple Mills, Cult Crackers – grain free
- nut butter (no sugar added) for apples and bananas
- tin fish like mackerel
- apple sauce in a pack – Once Upon A Farm, Santa Cruz,
- fruit snacks – That’s It, Solely
Happy healthy travels! What do you like to bring to snack, eat, and drink on during vacation? Comment below!