7 Ways To Stay Healthy While Travelling

Sticking to your diet can be particularly difficult while travelling.

Not only are you in a new place, where foods you regularly eat and even grocery stores might not be easily accessible, but there’s also the temptation of new exciting foods, local desserts and on the go snacks that can just chip away at your will power and get the better of you.

Sometimes it might seem like it’s impossible not to give in to all your temptations and cravings and indulge on everything this new country has to offer. But it can be done!

Next time you’re travelling, try out these tips to avoid crashing into an unhealthy cycle.

In this post:

1. Plan your days & take your own food when you can

When your planning your activities and what you’re going to do for the day, think about what sort of food options might be available. For example, if you’re visiting a theme park you know straight up that there are hardly ever healthy options to purchase. So if this is the case, it might be a good idea to see if you can take some snacks or your own meals to get you through the day.

We all remember how embarrassing it was when we were kids and our parents used to pack you a lunch for a day out, but it’s so understandable now. Not only are food prices extremely inflated at attractions like theme parks or zoos, but there is normally nothing healthy on offer.

Not only does taking your own food stop you from binging on unhealthy food, but it also saves a lot of money. I mean $10 for a soggy theme park burger? No thank you.

How To Survive Being Sick While Travelling

2. Stick to your dietary requirements

If you have certain food intolerences or dietary requirements when you’re at home, make sure you also stick to them when you’re on holidays. Just because you’re in a different country, doesn’t mean your body is going to react differently to food that it isn’t normally able to process.

As much as possible, try to make sure you follow your regular diet limitations to stop you from feeling sick and bloated while you’re travelling.

3. Stock up on fresh fruit and produce from the grocery store

This can be super difficult to do in many countries, but if you have the option it’s a good idea to stock up on as much fresh fruit and vegetables as you can from the local grocery store.

Always having a hotel mini bar full of healthy options allows you to to quickly grab something as you’re running out the door and it can keep you going throughout the day.

Some great easy options include almonds, carrot sticks, strawberries and blueberries. Pre-packaged salads also work a treat as meal options to take with you on day trips.

8 Ways Travelling Is Good For Your Health

4. Drink as much water as you can

No matter whether you’re travelling or at home, it always benefits you to drink as much water as you can.

Your digestive system will thank you for it, your skin will thank you for it, even your hair and nails will thank you for it. If you’re running around all day doing different activities and exploring a new city, you need to keep drinking water throughout the day to keep you going.

It is especially important to always keep water handy if you’re in a hot or tropical environment or doing physical activity all day to prevent dehydration or heatstroke.

mickey mouse ice-cream

How tough is eating healthy though when Mickey Mouse ice-creams like this are available! Image found on Pinterest.

5. Stick to your regular portions

Of course it’s exciting to try new foods while you’re travelling, but try to stick to your normal diet routine as much as possible. For example, if you normally eat six small meals or snack type meals throughout the day try and continue to do this while you’re travelling.

Overeating, especially with types of food your body isn’t used to, can often result in bloating and digestion discomfort. When you’re trying new foods and cuisines for the first time, try and keep the portion sizes as similar to your regular meals as possible.

16 Most Instagrammable Places To Eat In Bali

6. Research food options in the area

Take the time to research healthy and organic cafes and restaurants around the area you’re visiting. Google, Trip Advisor and Yelp can often be your best friend while you’re travelling, whether it’s for activities, lookouts or great places to experience, so you may as well use it to help you find great healthy eating options as well.

Try and check out the menu for places that you’re planning to visit so you can make sure there’s something you can eat on the menu before you arrive. Finding menus that also include options you like will only enhance your dining experience.

Check out blog posts from local bloggers in the area because they often have round up posts of the best places to eat in their city for different diet types or just generally healthy eating.

7. Try not to drink more alcohol than normal

No matter how much we try to ignore it, we’re all aware of how bad the effects of alcohol are on our bodies. As well as that, do you really want to spend the whole next day after a big night hung over and just trying to stop the world from spinning when you could be out exploring?

We’re definitely not saying not to drink while you’re travelling, especially where there are so many tropical cocktails to try, but maybe try and stick to just one or two so you stop before you start feeling sick and bloated.

Drink as much water as you can before you go to bed after a few drinks to flush it through your system and help you wake up feeling fresh in the morning.

How To Use Your Frequent Flyer Points To Fly For Free

Explore more of our travel tips to help plan your next adventure