It’s been a busy few months and for that, I’m feeling thankful and inspired. But I’m also feeling just about ready for a vacation. Which is why I am excited to announce that Friday, I will be off to sunny Mexico for some good old battery-recharging. Disconnecting always does the body good. And since most of my clients are also planning getaways in the coming weeks, healthy traveling has been a pretty hot topic. So does going on vacation mean giving your healthy ways a vacation too? It shouldn’t. A healthy lifestyle should follow you wherever you go. Here are some traveling tips to keep things in check:
Pack an emergency traveling kit
Even if you’re traveling a short distance, it’s always a good idea to carry-on some travel-safe snacks. You just never know when a flight delay will leave you stranded in an airport in desperate need of healthy fuel. Besides, it’s also wise to have a back up for those infamous mid-air meals…
Here’s what I’ll be packing along with me:
- Fresh fruit for my flight out: I have an early flight, so I’m bringing along a dose of vitamin C to enjoy with breakfast.
- Fruit & Nut bars: My current favourites are taste of nature bars and larabars. The ingredients are simple, they’re filling and they taste great. But whichever bar you choose, stay away from varieties with “coatings” that could melt, which could make security check a little messy.
- Chia seeds: These crunchy, nutrient-dense seeds have been a part of my diet for quite some time now, so bringing them along is simply a question of keeping up with my routine.
- Tea: Green, white, black or herbal, pick your flavour! Tea always comes in handy not to mention it takes up very little space.
Exercise by accident
When I ask clients how (or if) they plan to keep up with their exercise routine on their trip I often hear “Well I think they have a gym there, I guess I could workout”. But in the end, they admit to having no such intention. I know, because I’ve been guilty of this before. Having told myself that I would take full advantage of an on-site fitness centre when before I knew it, the trip was over and I hadn’t even set foot in the facility.
The solution? A simple mind shift. Instead of telling yourself you’ll workout on your trip, tell yourself you’ll be active on your trip. Integrate physical activity into the itinerary and you will get the best of both worlds. Whether this means power walking the streets of Europe or cycling the hills of San Francisco, the idea is to find a way to stay active, make the most of your trip and feel great doing it.
Here’s a glimpse of what I’m planning:
- Daily morning beach run
- Mayan ruin excursion
- Tennis
- Beach volleyball
- Snorkelling
Discover the local eats
One of the best ways to discover a different culture is through their food. Make it a point to ask the locals for the top eateries in town and put them on the agenda. Exploring new cuisines will expand your culinary horizons, introduce you to new flavours and maybe even motivate you to recreate these meals back home. It’s a must. And don’t fret over decoding nutritional value or keeping calorie count. When you’re away, your best bet is to rely on mindfulness. For more on what it means to be mindful, you can check out my recent post for Mindbodygreen here.
Once you’ve got that down pat, all that’s left to do… is enjoy. Happy travels!
Are you planning a vacation? What are some of your carry-on snacks? Do you exercise by accident?
Hi Vanessa 🙂
Just wondering how you eat your chia seeds on the plane! 🙂
xxx
Hi Lauren! I was planning on having them before boarding and during my trip with breakfast. I usually enjoy chia sprinkled over oatmeal or yogurt. But if you really want to use it on the plane, I would suggest something like “chia shots” which are individually packed, making them very easy to add to food or drink!
Hey vanessa,
My active lifestyle does not take a vacation.
my favourite activity is my morning beach runs.
can’t wait for my vacation in Wildwood crest.
Enjoy 🙂
see you back in KickBoxing class soon!
Nothing like a beach run. Hope you have a great time in Wildwood! See you soon 🙂
Such a great post! I love the idea of using the word “active” when it comes to vacation. I feel like hitting the gym can be hard while on vacay. If you are exploring the city you are in WHILE getting activity, it’s the best of both worlds.
Have a fabulous trip! 🙂
I’m new to the site as well as new to healthy living. When I decided to revolutionize my diet I tried to research “diets” to serve as a guideline. Everything from paleo to south beach seems impossible/unpleasant.
Where would you recommend me to begin?
Is there a book?
Is there a program?
You’re right, there are lots of labels out there! What you should focus on is eating real, whole foods and limiting any highly processed and fast-food items. Keep ingredients simple, cook often and savour your food. Good nutrition books i recommend include “What to eat” by Marion Nestle and “In defence of food” by Michael Pollan. These should give you a good starting point 🙂
Great tips and how fun that you’re traveling to Mexico! I am the queen of carry on snacks since I eat gluten-free. I love Lara bars and Zing bars, plus I bring along some Mary’s Gone Crackers to pair up with cheese and fruit. Love your tip to practice mindful eating while not worrying about calorie counts. Have fun!
Never tried zing bars, they don’t seem to be available up here. Love Mary’s Gone crackers, sounds like you pack a pretty great lunch!
Hi! I really want to bring my chia seeds with me but am worried about having them confiscated. Are there any certain steps I should take to make sure this doesn’t happen? Or special ways to pack them?