Healthy Traveling

How to Stay Healthy While Traveling

What do you love most about traveling? Well… The different types of food of course!

How to Stay Healthy While Traveling

It’s easy for us to ditch our healthy lifestyle while traveling. But if you’re not feeling your best, are you really enjoying your time spent away from home? It is totally possible to enjoy local cuisine, stay active and enjoy your holiday without depriving yourself of a true experience!  

Although it may seem tough to stay healthy while traveling, we will share some helpful tips to feel your best while traveling!

On the Road!

Most people lose their diet resilience the moment they get on the road! Sitting in a car or an airport gets boring, so what do we do… We eat! Gas-station food, fast-food, drive-thru’s, airport food, chain restaurants. Cheap and fast!

Cultural Cuisine

We love food. Who doesn’t love food? Trying new foods is all part of the cultural traveling experience! Don’t let your diet hold you back from enjoying the local cuisine while traveling! Some tips for feeling your best without sacrificing one of the greatest experiences!

  • Don’t overeat!
    • I struggle with this, A lot! (And so does John!) You don’t have to order everything on the menu! And you don’t have to eat the entire portion that is brought to you! Bring it back to your Airbnb or hotel. If you overeat, chances are you’re going to feel bloated, and have a lack of energy and not feel your best!
  • Limit your drinks!
    • I know, I know, everyone loves to drink while they are traveling. But drinking is also going to limit your energy and most likely lead to more snacking! And most boozy drinks are full of sugar and calories!
  • Research!
    • We all know France may be known for their pastries! But that doesn’t mean you have to go to every single bakery to see who has the best pastries! We’re allowed to have a cheat day, here and there, pick a well-known, highly-reviewed restaurant and appreciate it!

Water

Sometimes drinking water from other countries can be an issue and cause serious sickness. We bring our Sawyer Water Filter with us wherever we go just as a precaution. It comes in great when you’re hiking too!

Don’t go out for every meal!

It is so easy to eat out for every single meal, we were once there, it gets expensive, you might not be eating the best foods, and you’re probably lacking energy.

  • Look for a local Farmers market, (France has amazing Farmer’s Markets!), or a grocery store and stay in and cook! We often find Airbnb’s that have a kitchen we can use, so we can cook healthy food while traveling!

Stay Active!

We know it’s easy to just sit on the beach all day and sip Pina Coladas… Well, maybe we don’t, neither one of us can sit still for very long! But stay active, walk the towns, find restaurants you can walk to instead of driving. Rent a bicycle. Walk the beach. Find a yoga or workout class! Take a hike! There are so many things you can do to stay active on vacation!

Pace Yourself!

I know it’s hard to pace yourself when you want to see the entire city, state or country! We have been there, from Airbnb to Airbnb, from plane to plane. It’s exhausting, and you’re probably not going to feel your best. Slow down!

STAY HYDRATED!!!

Hydration is so incredibly important! (Yet, I still have a very difficult time doing this myself!) Bring a reusable water bottle, and fill it up as much as you can! Especially if you’re out on the beach all day. Or at an all-inclusive resort sippin’ drinks all day! Drink 8-16 ounces of water between each drink to feel your best!

Sleep!!

Even though you want to see the world, sleep is incredibly important! Your body needs sleep when you’re traveling, changing time zones, carrying luggage from place to place! Traveling can be hard on your body! Get your rest!

Don’t Forget to Breathe!

I know, it sounds silly. But oftentimes we don’t even think about it. Take a break, take a breath. I often practice box breathing.

Box breathing is so simple yet so powerful! This breathing technique helps relax the body, clear the mind and improve focus. And you can literally do it anywhere!

  • Breathe in through your nose slowly while counting to four.
  • Hold your breath for four seconds
  • Exhale through your nose for four seconds
  • Hold for four seconds
  • And repeat at least three times or until you feel relaxed!

Supplements!

We’re no doctors, but we often take a lot of supplements daily and while we’re traveling!

  • Turmeric
    • We take this daily! And I recommend it to everyone! It is a natural Anti-Inflammatory Supplement and has soooo many benefits!
  • Lectin Shield
    • Lectins are a protein present in many plant-based and many other foods we eat. Proteins that bind to certain carbohydrates. Beans, potatoes, grains, and nuts have high lectin concentrations.  They can interfere with your digestion, energy, and overall health. A Lectin Shield protects us from Lectin overload and also lowers food cravings.
  • Gluten Shield
    • Gluten Shield is a blend of enzymes that help support people with gluten sensitivity. It helps break down and neutralize gluten. I don’t recommend taking this daily, but when you want to enjoy the French pastries, this will help you recover!

How we deal with food allergies or sensitivities while traveling

Food allergies and sensitivities are never fun, especially while traveling and wanting to experience all the flavorful cultural food! We always found that it was tough being gluten-free and having a lot of other dietary restrictions for someone with Ulcerative Colitis. But there are ways to ensure healthy and safe eating while traveling!

  • Plan ahead!
    • Nowadays it seems like everyone has dietary restrictions. Most of the time airlines or resorts will ask if you have any food allergies when you book and if they don’t call ahead.
    • Ask for recommendations. Ask your host or the resort staff or the locals.
    • Double-check with the waiter/waitress and let them know your allergies. And let them know ahead of time before they bring out that big basket of bread!
  • Pack or buy your own food
    • It’s hard to find paleo or gluten-free food on the road, so pack some car snacks, fresh fruit or dried, crackers, nuts
  • Know the language!
    • Know how to explain that you have food sensitivities or allergies in the language that is spoken!
    • Glutenfreepassport.com and CeliacTravel.com have free gluten-free restaurant cards in many different languages!
  • Do a search!
    • Search for restaurants in the area that you are staying, look at their menu ahead of time, or call!

Check out our food blog and why we are on the paleo diet!

How to Stay Healthy While Traveling

Please remember we are not doctors, nor are we nutritionists. All advice here comes from our own experiences on how we stay healthy while traveling.

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How to stay healthy while traveling

Alyx B

A Certified Yoga Instructor and wellness coach, who studied Environmental Sustainability and Animal Science. Lover of animals and tacos! And passionate about traveling, hiking, yoga, and the environment.

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