Traveling Healthy

I don’t know about you but spring feels like a fun time to travel and plan summer travel! But you may also be wondering how to stay healthy while traveling.

Thankfully, with only a little effort and forethought, it’s possible to make mostly healthy choices, even while on vacation.

Maybe the first question to address is this: Why try to stay healthy while on vacation? Isn’t that the time to completely let loose and indulge?

I’ll tell you the reason I try to make mostly healthy choices on vacation is because I want to feel my best. I want to fully enjoy whatever trip or travels I’m on, and I know in order to do that, I can’t make it a marathon of junk food and sugary drinks. Or I simply won’t feel well.

But y’all living a healthy life is not about restricting yourself or being on a diet 24/7. I am healthy 80% of the time and 20% of the time I don’t stress about it. Sometimes the stress alone is worse for your health than following the perfect diet.

With that being said, it is so important to know yourself and where you’re at in your health journey.

If you’re still healing from an autoimmune flare or if you find it difficult to indulge a little without completely throwing in the towel, it may be wise to plan your trip in a way that really sets you up for success in making healthy decisions.

The goal is to have fun and feel well during vacation. And to return from vacation feeling refreshed rather than sluggish and tired.

But how do we set ourselves up for vacation success? I have some great ideas for you. 

1. Let’s start with snack food.

This is an easy hack, whether you’re road-tripping or traveling by plane. There are too many delicious and yet healthy snack food options out there to be buying the typical chips and candy so many of us are accustomed to packing for travel.

Most airports have healthier options these days, but it’s a good idea to be prepared in case you have a close connection or can’t find a better choice. In the case that you’re packing a car or packing your luggage, let’s talk about easy-to-travel healthy food options.

Some of my favorites include:

–Skout bars (use code TAYLORDUKES for 20% off)

–Paleo Valley meat sticks (use code TAYLORDUKES for 15% off)

–Epic bars 

–Bearded Brothers bars

If you want chips, then Siete makes a great grain-free option, and if you really want to pack some candy, consider brands like Unreal, and Hu Kitchen over traditional store-bought candies.

Heck, even packing an apple and a packet full of Artisana cashew butter is helpful!

2. Now let’s talk about eating out.

Most of us will be eating out more often than we normally would when we go on vacation. It’s worth it to look up healthy restaurants at your destination site. Whether that’s an organic juice bar + bakery for breakfast or a local farm to table restaurant for dinner, most places have restaurant options for those who are more mindful of their health.

Perhaps you are gluten free or vegan, you can always google the city or town that you are visiting and find good options. For example, “Chicago healthy organic juice bar”. That is the exact thing I googled last year and on our way to our hotel I stocked up on some kale chips, organic cold pressed juice and my husband and I both had a smoothie.

When it comes to ordering out on vacation, I’ve got you covered! Here are 10 tips for ordering out:

3. Hydrate well.

Sure, you might have a few drinks on vacation, but don’t forget to hydrate or use electrolytes as needed.

Drink plenty of water! Pique tea packets (use code TAYLORDUKES for discount) and TDW Electrolytes make drinking water a lot more appealing, and the individual packets travel so well.

Maybe you even want to pick up some high quality glass water bottles like Mountain Valley brand to stock in your airbnb or hotel room.

4. Health goes well beyond food and drinks.

If you know me, you know living as toxin-free as possible is super important!

If you plan on doing laundry while on vacation, consider bringing a non-toxic detergent like Molly’s Suds powder in a bag.

I’d forgo those miniature personal care lotions, shampoos and body washes at the hotel. Instead, pack a travel-sized version of a clean brand you already use. If the brand doesn’t make travel sizes, just get a set of mini silicone squeeze bottles and put your products in those!

Also, I LOVE Branch Basics travel kits and use them for everything from hand spray, to cleaning bottles on the go.

5. Pack for wellness.

If you need supplements, try and pick the most necessary ones and divide them accordingly in a pill case for smaller and more convenient packaging.

If you’re someone who likes to take baths, then you can pack your own epsom salts for soaking after a long day.

To improve your sleep, consider bringing a sound machine in case the hotel is noisy. And it might sound crazy, but you could even pack a few black trash bags to tape over bedroom windows to make it darker in the room, especially if you have children who are still napping!

6. Finally, move your body!

This one is completely free. There is no better way to explore a new city or beach or a park than by doing so on foot.

Maybe you don’t have access to a fitness studio or gym while on vacation – that’s totally okay! Hiking, walking, swimming, or biking are all great ways to remain active on vacation.

It doesn’t have to look like a traditional workout to be beneficial to your body. The important thing is to remain active in moving your body.

There you have it! Simple, do-able, and easy ways to make your next trip your best trip. I want you to feel rested and well when you return from vacation, and I’m sure with using some of the suggestions above, you absolutely will!

Stay Updated With Exciting News at Taylor Dukes Wellness!

We are always working on new ways to serve you on your health journey. Be the first to know about new offerings, health articles, and more by clicking here and filling out your information so we can be in touch.