5 Tips for Healthy Travel Eating
You know how it is when you travel. You want to taste everything new and exciting. You want to try that five-star restaurant that is listed in the top 50 restaurants in the world. You want to try everything that you pass from a truck, stand, stall or market. That is, after all, why you are a Food Travelist!
However, too much of a good thing can be not such a good thing. Since we spend much of our time doing exactly what is listed above in our travel, we thought we’d share our list of top 5 tips to help you enjoy your travel eating without having it take a toll on your health.
1. Taste, Don’t Eat
If you’ve got several food stops planned each day during your travel, do your best to moderate the portions of food you are consuming at each stop. Split some dishes with a traveling companion, order a variety of appetizers and small plates rather than an entrée or take a few bites of each treat on your plate rather than eat all of everything every single time. Moderation is the key.
2. Stay Physically Active
Be sure you get enough exercise during your travel. This doesn’t mean working out at the hotel gym, though you can if you like. Be the explorer you want to be. Walk around and see as much as you can. If you’re going somewhere that hiking or water sports or biking or other enjoyable physical pursuits are offered, go ahead and enjoy them. Even spending time wandering the local markets is time on your feet that is helpful. Find ways to integrate physical activity into your travel days.
3. Check Out The Local Markets
Some countries have more natural bounty than others. But most places you visit will have markets that the locals go to get their fresh goods, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and such. See what the locals do and what new and interesting treats there are to try. Your first taste of fresh dragon fruit could be a revelation – and a healthy snack to enjoy rather than something packaged with preservatives. We travel so we can enjoy the tastes of travel. Make sure you take advantage of the healthy tastes around you.
4. Take Healthy Snacks With You
For those times when you may not be close to a market, or civilization for that matter, be sure to take your own healthy snacks with you. Make your own trail mix, take nutrition bars, dried fruits, nuts, kale chips – whatever you like to munch on – with you as you enjoy your journey. This will keep you from getting some grab and go prepackaged snacks that might be loaded with salt, sugar and preservatives. Be sure to check around the places you travel to see what healthy snacks are available. There might just be something you want to try that’s good for you.
5. Watch Your Alcohol And Drink Lots Of Water
Some of us love the excitement of pairing wine or beer with our food. We love discovering new cocktails in exotic places too. Sometimes we forget that our bodies need to refresh and refuel in order able to do the things we want them to do. If you do like to imbibe, drinking enough water becomes even more important for you. Be sure to take clean, safe water with you wherever you go, whether you need to purchase it in a bottle or can use the local water to fill up your carrier. Invest in a travel water filter if you prefer not to buy plastic bottles or will be somewhere that the alternatives for obtaining clean water are slim. Be sure to intersperse your alcohol consumption with water. When you’re out and about, drink before you are thirsty, and remember that you probably lose more water than you think just wandering around.
Keep yourself fed, watered, rested, and exercised to make the most out of your trip. These are just a few of the tips we’ve used to keep our travels healthy and happy. Please let us know what tips you have as well.
THE QUICK BITE: Travel is fun and exciting, but it can also sometimes be a challenge to keeping healthy. Balance is key, and we provide our 5 top tips for healthy travel eating to make your trip enjoyable.
