How to Stay Healthy While Traveling: Keeping the Pounds off

There is nothing more exciting than taking a vacation and traveling. To travel is to live. Whether you're taking a road trip or headed to an exotic place to re up on some vitamin D, travel changes a person and often for the better. There's a sense of possibility and wonder found in a new place, surrounded and immersed in a culture outside of your own. However, with that involves a few disadvantages, including weight gain from experiencing amazing food and falling off of your health wagon. 

I mean let's be honest, food is a cultural experience and depending on where you travel, you're able to learn a lot about a place through its local restaurants, chefs, flavors, and foods of the particular place you're visiting and what it is known for. For me, being plant based, of course I'm tempted and going to have a five-course dinner from appetizer to dessert. So yes, I'm going to try the Lentil Steak and Shrimp, Shimp Tempura and Warm Apple Cinnamon Crumble, but the calories for dessert, no matter the dessert, could possibly range from 400 calories.

Traveling shouldn't be synonymous with eating unhealthily. So, I want to share with you some tips that I use that allow me to still feel great while enjoying new cultural experiences.

BRING YOUR OWN FOOD

Bringing your own food can provide some much-needed alternatives to choices that could otherwise be your detriment. I have always been one to take my own food, whether it's by car, plane or train. With following a plant-based diet here are some great healthy options: 

Fresh fruit: Grapes, Watermelon, Apples and other sturdy fruit that can withstand travel.

Dried Fruit, Nuts and Seeds: Dates, Dried Figs, Dried Mango, Almonds, Sunflowers Seeds, Cashews. Dried Fruits are lightweight, and don't require refrigeration and provide natural sweetness. 

Nut Butter (Just be sure not to take the jar lol iykyk). With nut butters you're able to spread it on bread, rice cakes, or fruit for a satisfying snack. 

Crackers, granola and/or energy bars, raw vegetables, oatmeal or cereal just to name a few.

Bringing your own food involves planning ahead but can pay off in the long run.

TIP: If you're unable to plan ahead and prepare food, there is always an option to find and visit a local grocery store and pick up a few items to have on hand during your extended stay away from home. 

Imagine: if you're traveling to a place where breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, sausage toast, and potatoes, substituting for healthier options a few days during travel could make for a smart nutritional choice. 

PRACTICE PORTION CONTROL

This can be challenging, as you may encounter larger portion sizes when dining out. However, you can still maintain control over your intake. This can of course help garner your healthy habits. A few ways to practice portion control:

Portion out the snacks that you brought by using small containers or snack bags.

Make it a rule not to order seconds and provide yourself with a cutoff point.

Split and share a meal with the individual(s) of whom you're traveling with. This can also save money.

Ask for a small plate, to save yourself from feeling as if you need to eat everything in front of you. This will help you to stop eating when you feel comfortably satisfied. 

Remember, practicing portion control doesn't mean depriving yourself or avoiding enjoyment. You can find balance and be mindful at the same time. 

JUICE CLEANSE

With travel and consuming different foods, your body may become overwhelmed. That being said, while it may feel odd to do a cleanse for a day or two while you're traveling, it can actually give your body a break. Luckily, most places and even other countries have access to cold pressed juice, in either a grocery or health food store, or local juice bar.

While it may take some research to find juice, and some challenges of access of healthy options may arise, juicing while traveling can provide a convenient way to consume a variety of fruit and vegetables.

Traveling also exposes you to new environments and germs, so juices can help with strengthening your immune system and reduce the risk of getting sick. Another option is considering a juice cleanse before leaving for a trip to give your body a boost in hydration and give your system a digestive break. Doing this can provide relief from digestive discomfort that may arise during travel and help start your trip off right. 

It's also a great idea to incorporate wellness shots, specifically ginger shots into your travel routine. Ginger shots help with upset tummies, they boost immunity, fight infection, help aid with hangovers and are the perfect pick me up. 

WORKOUT

Many other cities and countries regularly exercise and working out while traveling can offer numerous benefits for your physical and mental well-being. Some advantages of incorporating exercise into your travel routine are: 

Increased energy levels, improved mood, reduced stress, maintenance of fitness goals, better sleep and then, what I love and that's exploration of local experiences. Choosing to rent a bike, go for a walk or run in a new city, hiking a scenic trail, taking a yoga class in a yoga in a local studio or on a beach adds a sense of adventure and allows you to truly connect with the local environment and culture.  

When planning to workout, consider the resources available to you, such as gyms, fitness centers, outdoor spaces, or fitness apps that offer travel friendly workouts. Adapt to the time and space constraints of your trip, and don't beat yourself up if you don't maintain your regular frequency. The key is to remain active and make movement apart of your travel experience. 

CONCLUSION

Staying healthy while traveling and managing your weight to keep the pounds off can be challenging, but with some mindful strategies, you can make choices that will support your well-being. Plan ahead, stay hydrated, practice mindful eating, opt for balanced meals, practice portion control, prioritize physical activity, use fitness resources available to you, be selective with desserts and treats, get enough sleep, limit alcohol consumption and stay consistent with healthy habits. 

Remember, balance is key! Enjoy the culture and experiences, but also make mindful choices that support your health. Again, it's not about deprivation, but making conscious decisions to nourish your body while savoring your travel experience. 

Happy Traveling !! 

Ashley