staying healthy while traveling

Tonight’s guest post comes from Lisa @ Lisa’s Food on the Move. Lisa is going to share some tips on how to stay healthy while traveling — which is a good thing for me because I feel like I’m going to be gone a lot of July! Can I bookmark my own blog?

Hi, everyone! First, I’d like to thank Chelsey for the opportunity to share a post on her blog. I love her funny and fun writing style, and the way she mixes in her teacher stories.

I first caught the travel bug during college. One of my best friends was studying abroad in Paris, and when she suggested I visit her to backpack through Europe, I jumped at the chance.

I was vegan at the time, and learned very quickly how to travel while following a specific diet. It often meant looking for whole foods like fruits, nuts, and vegetables, since they were easier to identify as vegan or non-vegan.

Since then, I’ve traveled in the U.S. and overseas pretty extensively, and I love trying new foods on the road (though I’m no longer a vegan, but that’s another story). I also aim to eat healthy foods most of the time, so I try to follow these six tips to feel good and to enjoy local delicacies while on the road.

1. Find out what the locals eat.

Before you go, buy a travel guide, since many of them have sections on local cuisine. By eating what the local people eat, you are more likely to eat healthier foods, because in all likelihood, the foods will be more in season, more fresh, and more delicious. 

I love Lonely Planet guides, which offer information for travelers of all budgets, and always include a food section. It’s fun to anticipate the kinds of foods you’ll encounter, and if you have dietary restrictions and are heading to a non-English speaking locale, you may need to learn a few words to be able to communicate your needs.

2. Find out where the locals eat.

Think about where you live. Are there coffee shops, restaurants, or bars that the locals love to frequent?

When you travel to a new place, keep that in mind, and seek out places that the locals visit. They’re often listed in travel guides, or if you’re feeling bold, ask the locals! People love to share their culture and favorite places with newcomers, and chances are, the local places will be serving that more healthy, fresh, and delicious regional food.

3. Look for grocery stores.

When I was traveling through Japan a few years ago, I found excellent half-price sushi in grocery stores at the end of the day. In Ireland I purchased fresh soda bread, sandwich fillings, and fruit for much healthier lunches than I would have had in a restaurant.

By buying in supermarkets or grocery stores and making your own meals, you can guarantee that your food will be healthier than what you may find by eating out. Plus, it’s always fun to check out new grocery stores, so even if you don’t plan to do any self-catering, it’s worth a trip. You’ll save money too.

4. Stay hydrated.

Traveling, especially flying, are very dehydrating. By drinking plenty of water, juices, and herbal teas, you’ll stay healthy and hydrated.

Before you go though, make sure you know what the water quality is like where you’re heading. If the water is safe to drink, bring a water bottle, and fill it up at water fountains or sinks. If the water is unsafe to drink, or if it’s hard to access water, buy bottled water, and don’t skimp. While it’s nice to save money on the road, water is usually an inexpensive way to stay hydrated and healthy, especially if you check out supermarkets. (Unless you’re in France, where the wine is cheaper than water.)  

5. Eat fruits or veggies at most meals.

Just like with the water situation, before you travel, make sure to know which foods should be avoided. (In some places, you may need to avoid raw fruits and vegetables without a skin, like greens or berries.)

If you’re heading to a tropical place, try new and exotic fruits. If you’re eating a lot of fast food on a road trip, then surely your taste buds will appreciate a salad or vegetable-loaded dish. Plus, adding more fruits and vegetables are a great way to stay hydrated, since many of them are full of water.

6. Most importantly, find balance.

Just as it’s important to stay healthy while traveling, it’s also important to do everything in moderation.

If you plan to do a lot of your own cooking, try to go out to eat too. Even though the cost is higher, you can usually try foods that you wouldn’t find at home. It’s worth it to save some money to have restaurant meals to look forward to.

Enjoy the local foods, and include sweets and drinks, if you like. Some of the best (vegan) gelato I’ve ever had was in Italy. So good that we went back twice a night sometimes. You don’t know when you’ll get back to a place, so don’t miss out on foods you want to try.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from traveling, it’s to have no regrets. Live in the moment, have fun, and eat well.

Bio: Lisa Fine is the writer behind Lisa’s Foods on the Move, a healthy living and travel blog. She loves to share new recipes and food finds, along with showing her passion for farmers’ markets, farms, traveling, and running. You can also find Lisa’s work in her Etsy shop, where she creates recycled paper notebooks that are inspired by local and organic food.

Question: How do you handle staying healthy while traveling?

Tagged as: finding balance, guest post, staying healthy while traveling, travel, travel tips