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With lots of little trips coming up I wanted to hop on here and talk about different ways to stay healthy while traveling. We all know it can be a struggle to stay on top of fitness and nutrition while away and I’ve tried my hardest (especially with a food allergy) to make life as normal as possible when away from home.

So when traveling, how can we enjoy ourselves without feeling guilty about food, not working out, feeling bloated, tired, hungover etc?

Here are my little tips about how to stay on schedule, what to eat, drink, when to workout and how to feel your very best, no matter where you are in the world!

Stay Healthy Travel Tips

1. Pack 2 days prior to leaving

That’s right, no more last minute packing nonsense! Lay your clothes and everything you need out 2 days before your trip. This way you can run to the store if you realize you don’t have something you need and you also won’t feel super stressed about packing last minute. It’s all about mindset here. Being totally stressed out right before leaving is going to start your trip off on the wrong note and no one wants that. Save yourself the hassle and prepare early, you’ll be so glad you did.

2. Research, research, research

Ok so I may be guilty of over researching. Mike makes fun of me because I can sit on the computer for hours looking at hotels, restaurants, juice bars, gyms, wine bars…. basically, everything. It is really helpful though to have some sort of game plan for when you arrive. Know what the restaurant in your hotel has to offer and find at least one breakfast, lunch and dinner spot nearby. Yelp and Trip Advisor are great for this. I also always do a quick search once I get to the hotel. I typically type in “gluten free breakfast” or “best salad” (or whatever meal I’m looking for) and see what’s around. This makes me so much more comfortable when dining out because I’ve already read reviews and it’s a great way to find some really awesome local spots!

3. Drink a lot of water on travel day

I will admit I’m not the best flyer. I usually don’t eat before a flight because there’s about a million butterflies in my stomach but I always drink a ton of water and I buy a big water bottle in the airport to take on the plane. Yes, it’s annoying because I then have to get up from my window seat to use the restroom but I’d rather that than have a massive headache once we land. Water, always. Even after landing. This is such an easy one. I bring my Swell bottle with me and fill it up if the hotel has a water station. Or I head to the nearest grocery store/ CVS and buy a few big bottles to keep in the hotel room.

4. Bring snacks

This is a big one. Always bring a few snacks to have not only on travel day (this way you don’t get stuck eating some crap in the airport) but also to have with you during your stay. Protein bars, little nut butter packets (I LOVE these), macadamia nuts, kale chips or a banana. The key here is to not bring things you find so yummy that you snack on them even when you’re not hungry (that would be trail mix for me!). These snacks are for travel day and to keep you from getting hangry during your trip.

5. Stay on your regular meal schedule when traveling

If you normally wake up and have a healthy breakfast with a cup of coffee, do that while away. If you’re used to skipping breakfast and having 2 meals during the day/ evening, find your restaurants ahead of time and stick to it. Just because your hotel has an all you can eat buffet doesn’t mean you have to indulge in eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast, a croissant and a banana nut muffin. If you wouldn’t eat it at home, don’t eat it when you travel. Now I know, part of traveling is trying some really amazing food. That is totally fine, just don’t overdo it! If you’re in Italy and you plan to go to the place that basically created pizza for dinner, EAT THE PIZZA and love every second of it. But how about during the day you eat a bit lighter, have lots of water and get some extra veggies in. This way you’re nice and hungry for that pizza and not grossly stuffed when you get into bed that night.

6. Workout, even if you don’t feel like it

Yeah, you’ve just gotta do it. The best way for this to happen is to plan your workouts out ahead of time. If you’re away for 6 days, plan to workout 4 times. Bring 4 different sets of workout clothes and plan it into your day. For me I always exercise in the morning before breakfast while away. This way it’s done and over with and I don’t have to think about it. I usually set a time max of 30 minutes and plan to do bodyweight exercises unless I know the hotel has a gym with some free weights. It doesn’t have to be long or super challenging, just get in and get moving. You will feel so much better not only during vacation but when you get back home too!

7. Also, go for walks!

Whether you’re visiting a city for the first time or it’s somewhere you’ve been before, get out and explore! It’s so much fun to walk around in a city other than where we live. New places and people to see, lots of picture to take. Bring some comfy shoes and walk your little heart out. Not only is this good for your body but it does the mind wonders, too 🙂

There you have it. 7 little tips that will keep you feeling great while away but also will bring you more peace once you’re back home and having to get back into your regular day-to-day routine. Safe travels, lovelies!