Both traveling and eating healthy are very important to us. We work hard to stay fit, so hopefully we can stay active and travel a lot in our lives. This started as a struggle, but we learned by doing, trying, failing and being creative. Read this post to learn more about our tips on how to eat and stay healthy while traveling!
Tip 1: Stick to a normal eating schedule
A traveling schedule can be quite irregular and casual. This can make it hard to stick to a normal eating routine. However, it’s key not to skip meals, have breakfast, lunch and dinner at regular times. And try not to snack too much between the meals. This will also help you overcome a possible jet lag (read this article on how to overcome your jet lag). And prevent cravings for unhealthy food, so you feel energized the whole day.
Tip 2: Prep your food
To achieve Tip 1, mentioned above, it will help to plan ahead and prepare meals and snacks beforehand. If you have to get up early, make sure you can have a healthy breakfast on the way. If you’re planning to do a lot of activities, make sure your backpack is filled with wholesome snacks.
Tip 3: Ideas for healthy snacks
- We always get some fruit at the market or in the supermarket. Apples, bananas, clementines and oranges are easy to transport and an easy snack for on the road.
- Another favorite are nuts, as they will really fill you up and give you an energy boost. Great for hiking.
- Dried fruit (eg. apricots or dates), dark chocolate (unless temperatures are too high!), and hard-boiled eggs are good snack alternatives.
- When you finish your supplies before you quench your hunger, go for salty, rather than sweet snacks. As sweet snacks will only make you more hungry and low on energy once the sugar rush has passed.
Tip 4: Salads to the rescue
We agree that salads are not always the most exciting dish on the menu. However, it can be hard to reach the daily goal of 250 grams of vegetables when you only eat out. So, try to eat balanced and diverse by ordering something with nice and fresh veggies every now and then.
Tip 5: Make good use of your accommodation’s facilities.
These tips can be achieved in your apartment or hostel, but also in most hotel rooms.
- Keep your supplies fresh in the fridge or minibar (e.g. some yoghurt and fruit for breakfast).
- Use the water cooker to fill up your thermos flasks and make some hot tea or coffee for on the road.
- Boil some eggs in the water cooker or coffee machine. Eggs are a fulfilling snack or breakfast addition.
- Fill up your water bottle at the water dispenser in the hotel gym, common area, kitchen or wherever there is drinking water available.
Tip 6: Do buffets better
Oh those hotel buffets. It can be very tempting at the ‘All you can eat buffet’ to eat all that you think you want. However, this won’t make your body happy and you will regret this later on. So, go easy on the cakes, pastries and even the bread. Go for yoghurt (without the sweetened breakfast cereal), eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, baked beans and salmon instead. And add color to your life with fruits and vegetables on the side.
Tip 7: You don’t need unhealthy food to enjoy your holiday
Try to change your mindset. Being on holiday and enjoying yourself doesn’t mean that you have to reward yourself with sugary and processed food all the time. In the end this won’t make you happy and energetic. There are other ways to reward and treat yourself. Visit a spa, get a massage, go to the theater or a music performance or buy some souvenirs. There are many ways to treat yourself, be creative.
Do you have any additional tips to eating healthy while abroad? Let us know!
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