Traveling is the best way to learn more about this world and yourself in particular. You let your hair down and rush to those new adventures. But whenever we take a trip to a new place we just might forget to think beforehand about what we are going to eat or drink. This is especially true when it concerns healthy food. Is it possible to eat healthy while traveling and if yes, then how?
The process of travel starts with packing a suitcase. We mull over the most important stuff we are so afraid to forget – documents, phones, chargers, etc, but do we often pay attention to the food? Rarely.
Healthy travel food is essential when moving to a new place. For example, if we eat unsafe or contaminated food during the trip we might face food poisoning which definitely kills the buzz. The good news is that eating healthy and cheap while traveling is possible. You just need to do a couple of simple steps:
This is the first thing you ought to do in order to eat healthy while traveling – google the local grocery stores, cheap restaurants, or cafes before the trip. Check the reviews and put them in your notes. People often make one simple mistake – they research food choices only after they are already in a new country.
The problem is that after you’re in a new place you easily feel hungry and thirsty. It’s no surprise that your first action is to rush to the nearest street vendor or market without knowing anything about it. Believe me, a little research can help you find healthy food even in cheap places.
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Before the trip go to any grocery store in your town and make sure you bought these healthy snacks:
They will not only keep you full but also allow you to have enough energy during travel. That said, once you step on board or take your seat on the train you will be proud of yourself for having grabbed nutritious snacks.
You need to stay hydrated when you go somewhere. That’s why, if you put a bottle of water in your backpack, you will thank yourself afterward. By the way, sometimes we might confuse hunger with thirst. If you feel hungry, you won’t trek to a new café but rather consume some water first.
Make sure you don’t drink tap water unless you are sure it’s safe. Try to search for a local store or perhaps a safe source. You’d best opt for sealed or bottled water just for your safety.
A great advantage of cooking for yourself is more control over what you’re consuming. Moreover, you have the option to prepare something healthy and nutritious (5).
Instead of fancy hotels, look for a small apartment or even a hostel with a kitchen or a kitchenette.
I guarantee you that your budget won’t get hurt and you will be able to eat healthily. Once you get to your place, you can stroll to a nearby grocery store, purchase veggies, fruits, and meat, and prepare your favorite dishes. If you can’t afford cafes or restaurants every day, this tip is ideal for you.
If you want to stick to a travel diet you might get scared when you see a drive-thru. But actually, they are not as bad as they seem. These places can’t propose super healthy food but if you make the right choices you won’t get into trouble.
You are better off choosing steamed, grilled, broiled, or baked food instead of fried. Switch to lean protein and vinaigrette-based dressing salads, broth-based soups, eggs with whole-grain bread, and oatmeal. If you enjoy comfort food, just consider small portions — stick to the basics such as a single burger without extra sauces, and drink water instead of soda (8).
As kids, we were taught to wash our hands before eating. As adults, we still need to do it. If you bought food from the drive-thru or at the gas station, never forget to wash your hands or use a sanitizer.
If you’d rather buy fresh veggies and fruits, rinse them in the hostel or apartment and cook something healthy rather than devour potentially unhealthy food from a street vendor. Yeah, the aroma is tempting but at what cost?
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Traveling on the road is exciting but no easy feat. It takes much more thinking and patience when it comes to healthy travel food. Here are the top-eating tips that will be helpful to spend your time on the road eating out.
Edwina Clark, M.S., R.D., recommends non-perishable snacks like nuts, jerky, and protein bars. She explains that when you suppress hunger with these quick bites it can help you make healthier food choices throughout the rest of the trip (7).
Also, if you have those little snacks every three hours and then go to a restaurant you will devour less food and still feel energized.
When you eat too many calories in one meal you might feel sleepy and stuffed. Have you noticed that after a huge meal all you want to do is to lie on your bed and take a nap? However, it won’t be that easy if you’re on the road, so your best option is to eat smaller portions more frequently.
Eating small amounts of healthy food throughout the day sends a signal to your brain that the food supply is plentiful, so it’s OK to burn through those calories quickly.
After you’ve packed your luggage and then feel like the whole stash of healthy snacks is too heavy, go ahead and pack less of them. And when you get to the new destination, the first thing you should do is to find a local supermarket or a grocery store. There you can stuff your backpack with nutritious healthy snacks.
By the way, a lot of these stores offer veggie and meat salads which is a great choice to begin your trip with.
According to Abbey Sharp, dietitian and blogger at Abbey’s Kitchen, you should always consume a healthy breakfast before you start a day on the road, whether it’s a trip by plane, boat, train train, or automobile (7).
When you start your day with a healthy nutritious breakfast you will have enough energy to enjoy the road trip. As part of breakfast, you can choose snacks from your stash or something ready-to-eat from the supermarket. Make sure it’s all fresh and stored properly.
Protein food allows you to feel less ravenous for junk food. Protein keeps you invigorated and powerful. Plus, it enhances your concentration because it promotes satiety. Try to consume at least one protein source at every meal and snack, for example, protein-rich snacks like nuts, turkey jerky, hummus, hormone-free beef, a hard-boiled egg, or cheese (2).
When you amble around and explore sightseeing, you need to have energy. Dehydration can make you feel sluggish. Water – the best source of hydration that helps with digestion, reduces fatigue, and prevents headaches caused by dehydration (2).
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So, you are already in your destination feeling hungry. You have no idea which food to try because you’re afraid to get nausea or even worse. Eating healthy while traveling is beneficial to your mood and general state. It is essential to know what you need and needn’t eat.
Don’t worry, I’ve got a list of common healthy foods, especially for you.
These foods can be prepared ahead of time or found in many local groceries. If you have a chance you might as well scope out restaurants with nutritious food. Always opt for baked, roasted, grilled, or steamed food. It may be better to skip something fried, since frying adds a lot of calories and fat.
Healthy fast food:
People can be unaware of what is harmful and what isn’t. When we are at home we may feel safer eating certain foods that carry inherent risk. That said, it doesn’t always work that way when we are abroad. It is important to have enough willpower to avoid some tempting food because the consequences might ruin your trip.
While traveling you’d best pass up on some meals. Eat healthy while traveling abroad and your body will appreciate that.
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Road trips bring pleasure into our lives but sometimes they also bring extra unnecessary kilos. We usually are so fascinated by the new spots, that we totally forget what we put in our mouths. After the trip, we come back home and in bewilderment noticed we gained weight. Here are the food and action tips for you to stay in shape while you travel:
Hotel prices for the meals can cost a fortune sometimes. It doesn’t mean you need to switch to fast food. Here are some cool ideas for healthy and nutritious meals you can prepare in your hotel room:
Buy eggs at the local supermarket and feel free to indulge yourself in a nutritious meal. Usually, there are microwaves in hotel rooms. You can use a mug and a microwave to enjoy this nutritious healthy meal.
Microwaves in the room can help you create amazingly delicious baked potatoes within minutes. Once you add broccoli to it you can enjoy a healthy meal in your hotel room.
If you have a mini-fridge in the hotel you can buy fruits and vegetables and put them there. Buy avocado, veggies, and salsa, dress them with oil, and here you have a great salad for lunch.
Boil some water, add it to the noodle cup and your meal is ready. If you want to make it healthier, add some spinach or scallions into it.
Due to meat and vegetables, this meal is a rich source of protein and other nutrients. Purchase a bag of frozen cauliflower rice and prepare it in the microwave using the instructions listed on its packaging (1).
Eating healthy while traveling is essential and possible. The best way to do it is to pack your snacks and scope out places with nutritious healthy food before the trip. In this case, you won’t get lost in the maze of street vendors and unhealthy restaurants worrying about food poisoning, stomach pain, or nausea. Enjoy healthy food and have a great time.
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