How to Eat Healthy While Traveling
Q: Isn’t it hard to eat healthy while traveling?
A: Yes, yes, it is. But not impossible!
When you’re off your typical routine and traveling on the road, eating options can be limited. Very limited. But, similar to the effort it takes to maintain healthy eating habits at home, eating nutritiously while traveling is possible; it just takes a little extra effort!
Here are my tips for eating healthy while traveling!
Do research ahead of time.
When I’m traveling somewhere foreign, I like to start my mornings by planning out my day (over coffee, of course). In addition to deciding what activities are in store, I take 5-10 minutes to research restaurants in the area and scope out menus. By doing this quick planning, I’m able to control what and when I’m eating that day. I may even plan my activities in a way that accommodates those restaurants if it feels rational. I’m not suggesting making yourself crazy by forcing yourself to plan out every breakfast/lunch/dinner, but if healthy eating is truly a priority, it’s worth getting a lay of the land in advance.
Find a grocery store.
When restaurant options feel incredibly limited, the grocery store is your ally! That’s where you can always find some fresh, whole foods, including vegetables and fruit. Even if you don’t have access to a kitchen while traveling, pop into the local supermarket for healthier leaning snacks like dried fruit and nuts. As a solo traveler road-tripping around the U.S. for a year in 2020, the prepared deli section was my haven! Depending on what country you’re in, you can request a few slices of meat like turkey or prosciutto, or if you’re lucky, potentially get a small portion of some type of prepared salad. The extra perk of supplementing your meals out with grocery finds is that it’s usually one of your cheapest eating options while traveling solo! Win-win.
Pack snacks.
I have certain go-to snacks wherever I’m at in the world, home or away, and those snacks always make it in my suitcase! For me, that’s individual protein bars, nuts, and dried fruit without added sugar. Non-perishable things that can live in your bag for the duration of a long cross-country road trip can come in very valuable. You never know when you’ll be stuck on a longer than expected bus ride abroad with no meal in sight… best to have some healthy snacks to nibble on just in case!
Enjoy local foods!
My last suggestion? Cut yourself some slack and indulge in local specialties! Personally, I like to abide by the 90/10 rule, meaning that 10% of the time, I’m off my healthy eating and digging into greasy, soul-filling favorites. And on vacation, that skews more towards 70/30! :) Every place is known for SOME type of food, and in my opinion, you’re doing yourself a bit of a disservice not trying it! I couldn’t resist trying tacos on tacos on tacos while traveling through the Southwest!! Biscuits and gravy in Nashville? You betcha! Those experiences are part of why we travel in the first place, right?!
Remember: Everything in balance! What are your best tips for eating healthy while traveling?
