8 tips for a healthy diet when traveling

8 tips for a healthy diet when traveling

If you travel for work or pleasure, you know that healthy food can sometimes be hard to come by. Or I should at least say that there are so many temptations that the healthy options seem rare. Being prepared is 75% of the battle when it comes to eating healthy while traveling. It definitely requires a bit of planning and a specific nutritional strategy. Luckily, you can stick to your healthy eating plan with a little extra work. These 8 tips for eating healthy while traveling offer some solid ideas for staying on track while on the road.

1. Location – When choosing accommodation, it’s all about location. Let's say you travel for work and are in the same place for at least a few days. It is important to find a location that is close to healthy resources. Is there a grocery store nearby that you can walk to for healthy snacks and/or meals? Are there any healthy cafes or restaurants within walking distance where you can grab a bite? It's easy to excuse not being able to eat healthy on the go if you don't have good options. Don't make that your excuse. Choose as wisely as possible to set yourself up for success.

2. Accommodations with Kitchens or Kitchenettes – One of the best ways to ensure a healthy diet while traveling is to have access to some sort of kitchen. Extended stay hotels, vacation rentals, and Air B&B are great options if they are convenient for your location. If a kitchen is not available, a refrigerator in your hotel room is a good alternative. The point is that if you have either a kitchen or a refrigerator, you have the opportunity to stock up on good snacks and easy meals. Things like fresh fruits and vegetables, bottled water, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, nuts, natural peanut butter, rotisserie chicken, and canned fish are fantastic options that are easy to store and don't require a lot of prep work to make a quick meal or snack.

3. Ship Items Beforehand – Another strategy would be to ship your preferred dry goods to your location in advance. Protein powder, beans, nuts, canned tuna, bread, and quick-cooking oats are all items that could have been shipped before you arrive so that you have some healthy options waiting for you.

4. Carry a cooler – Carry your healthy food with you. Stock a cooler with your favorite snacks, sandwiches, bottled water, and everything you need for the day. This option works well if you can drive to your location and take your cooler with you. If you're flying, you'll need a collapsible cooler to store your suitcase.

5. Research restaurants in the area – Do your research before you go. Even if you have access to a kitchen or refrigerator, you may want or need to eat a few meals. Find out which restaurants are in the area and which menus offer healthy options that interest you. You can plan trips to one of these restaurants and know what you're going to eat when you walk in the door.

6. Protein Powder – Protein is often the hardest to come by. Eating healthy on the go becomes much easier if you can bring some protein powder with you. Even if it's a backup, you know you have a good protein source to go to if you can't find a viable option. Sometimes your healthy eating strategy requires using a combination of options. For example, finding fruits and vegetables might be easy, but finding a source of protein might be quite expensive. In certain cases, protein powder can fill in the gaps.

7. Supergreen Supplement – ​​It is often very difficult to eat the right amount of vegetables when traveling. This is the perfect time to include a great supplement like Amazing Grass, Green Defense or Greens +. A supplement is just that – a way to supplement your diet. While this shouldn't be your mainstay for getting started with vegetables, it can always be used to increase your micronutrient intake and incorporate some greens into your diet.

8. Bring homemade snacks – Bring homemade, non-perishable snacks. Homemade granola or protein bars, protein muffins, kale chips, and homemade granola or trails are wonderful options to take with you. If you have healthy food with you, there are chances that you will eat that healthy food instead of looking for junkies.

If you notice (or maybe you already have), the common theme here is that you need to be prepared. If you're committed to the goal of weight loss, health, or just want to ensure you're eating high-quality meals, you need to set yourself up for success. Eating healthy while traveling is completely doable, but it requires a little planning and strategy to make it work.

Inspired by Margot Rutigliano