10 Healthy Travel Tips | Staying Healthy While Travelling

There is a 99% chance that when family or friends get back from a big trip they mention how much weight they gained while travelling. Staying healthy while travelling is something I try to focus on (and it’s not always easy). Coming back from an incredible trip and feeling tired and lethargic is the last thing I want to deal with. Being well-traveled does not have to equal being overweight or unhealthy! I’ve come up with a list of 10 healthy travel tips that keep me fit while traveling.

Many cities are making sights more accessible with tourism on the rise (elevators, escalators, funiculars, etc.). Skip the funicular and climb the 300 steps to get to the base of the Sacré-Cœur basilica in Paris. That decision just burned about 375 calories! Want to see spectacular views at the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral? Get that heart rate up and take on the 528 stairs to get to the top and burn about 650 calories.

Take that decision to your hotel too. I try to book my rooms on the 3^rd or 4^th floor so I can take the stairs instead of the elevator. Taking the stairs to your room multiple times a day ends up being a mini workout and is a great healthy travel habit to get into. 

This healthy travel tip seems obvious but is also the option tourists throw out the window and opt to take the metro or Uber instead (especially if you chose fashion over comfort and didn’t bring the right shoes). Many of us come from cities where we drive our car everywhere. When we see a 25-30 minute walk on our Google Maps app many of us don’t even consider making the trek. If you pick up your pace that 25 minute walk can easily take less than 20 minutes. What’s great about many tourist cities is that you will get great views, people watching, etc. when you walk. Look on the map and see if you can walk along the river or down a popular promenade to get to your destination. You can burn around 150 calories by walking at a brisk pace for 30 minutes. 

If your destination offers a bike share program or your hotel includes bikes, take advantage! Many times it was quicker for us to bike than to take public transportation or Uber. If you aren't comfortable biking around a city yet book a bike tour. These tours cater to all levels of bikers and typically choose bike friendly routes. A great way to get your feet wet and ready to start biking all over town! A 20 minute bike ride at a moderate pace will burn around 150 calories!

Chances are you will be at your destination before you know it with all the things to look at on the way. Besides staying healthy while travelling another benefit to walking and biking is you will get a much better sense of the city layout vs. being underground in the metro and zipping around in a taxi. 

We all have the best intentions of squeezing in a workout later in the day in order to stay fit while traveling. Let’s be honest and admit that rarely happens while on vacation. Wake up a little earlier and get your morning workout in first thing. Morning jogs are actually one of my favorite things to do while traveling. I get to see the sights completely empty and have gotten some of my best photos of popular sights during my morning run. I even put my workout days on my itinerary and plan ahead where I’m going to jog or what my workout will be. This healthy travel habit helps me commit to my routine by seeing it on paper before I even leave for the trip.

One of my easiest healthy travel tips is to pack powdered greens. I replace a few afternoon meals with a green juice and give my body a break from digesting heavy meals. If you are in a city that has a juice spot even better! Choosing a juice over a meal not only is healthier and will leave you feeling lighter but can also be enjoyed on the run while you are walking to your next destination.

I really like the Garden of LIfe Superfood Powder, Detox Organics Chocolate Superfoods, and Jarrow Green Defense.

How to eat healthy while traveling...it's a legitimate question when there are so many things to try! In comes the food market. It’s a perfect way to sample a number of different dishes without having to commit to a full portion. Prices are typically pretty low and it’s also a great stop if you want to buy ingredients for a healthy picnic when the weather is nice.

One piece of advice I give for travel in general is to assume that you will be back. Trying to pack in every single sight and trying every single dish in one visit is daunting. Assume you will be back and fit in what you can without being rushed or taking time to slow down and enjoy your surroundings (or overwhelming your taste buds). My husband, Jake, is the type of traveler that wants to try every popular food item whether we are in a city for 1 day or 7 days. I have to constantly remind him that our trip should not be based on trying every dish but instead enjoying the city and that it’s not the end of the world if we don’t taste every flavor of croquettes before we leave Spain.

SEE MY OTHER TRAVEL TIPS INCLUDING:

9 TIPS FOR TRAVELLING WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY

BEST WEEKEND GETAWAYS IN THE USA – TOP 10

TRAVELLING LIGHT – HOW TO SIZE DOWN YOUR BEAUTY BAG

TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS – WHAT TO DO BEFORE DEPARTURE

AFFORDABLE TRAVEL – 10 BUDGET TRAVEL TIPS

If you have food sensitivities you may be wondering how to eat healthy while travelling AND how to deal with your specialty diet. I have my homeopathic doctor to thank for this healthy travel tip. Dealing with autoimmune I am often on a restricted diet (gluten playing a huge part). When I first started learning how much better I felt taking gluten out of my diet I balked at the idea of visiting England and not eating scones or missing out on fresh pasta in Italy. When I brought this up to my doctor she gave me the “every other day rule” to follow. If you follow a specific diet when at home whether that be limited gluten, no dairy, no alcohol, etc., don’t feel like you have to completely miss out when traveling. If you want to have fresh pasta in Italy just make sure you don’t have gluten the next day. This way of thinking also helps to not waste your “cheat meals”. I typically won’t gorge on the free bread at dinner because I know I’m planning to each gluten with pizza the next day. You’ll think twice before drinking the free mimosa that comes with your hotel breakfast in anticipation for a high-quality wine with dinner. You get the drift…..everything in moderation.

*Obviously this is not for people with severe food restrictions. You know your body. I know I can have gluten every now and then and be fine...so the every other day rule works for me. It also works for people that elimate food groups just to stay healthy and fit.

This healthy travel tip is pretty obvious, but yet, when we sit down at the table and look at all the items on the menu, this idea goes out the window. It’s tempting to over order when you are in a new city and at a restaurant where everything looks amazing. Reign in your cravings and start ordering modestly. If you’re in Italy make the primi (small first course) your meal. If you’re with a friend order an appetizer or two and share a main dish. You can ALWAYS order more if you are still truly hungry. Chances are you will realize you ordered just the right amount and are happy you don’t feel uncomfortably stuffed.

The food you can eat in airports, train stations, and on the plane are no-where near in taste and quality than what you can eat once you get to your destination. Skip these meals and plan ahead. For long flights I usually pack several tea bags (herbal) to stay hydrated, some powdered greens, and maybe a snack bar or two. Not only does this keep you from feeling bloated in-flight with the salt laden airplane food, but takes the guilt factor out when your first stop in Paris is for a latte and chocolate croissant.

Before and after any long trip I will typically eat extremely clean. For me that looks like lots of veggies, healthy fats, small amounts of lean protein, and no alcohol. Sometimes I’ll even do a juice cleanse. Eating this way before the trip gives me great energy levels and I find it also helps me to adjust to the time change. Doing this after the trip helps to reset my body and give it a break from all the food I am not used to eating on a regular basis.

Keeping these 10 healthy travel tips in mind ensures I have great energy during my travels, assists in adjusting to time zone changes, takes the guilt out of travel eating, and helps me to continue a healthy lifestyle and feel my best even while abroad.