One of my favorite things about traveling is trying out all the new cuisines – but if you get in a spot where you are traveling constantly, eating whatever you want can become a problem. I love getting on a plane and jetting off to a new country or city, but with that comes a lot of stress, especially if you are not taking care of your body. You have to worry about packing right, keeping your luggage organized, and making sure that you get there without any delays—not to mention that you’re also trying to figure out where to eat and what sites are worth seeing! But don’t worry: even though traveling can be stressful, it doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your health while doing so. In fact, there are several ways you can stay healthy while traveling abroad.
Disclaimer: If you are not a frequent traveler, throw your diet out the window on your trip. Enjoy yourself! This article is more for people who are constantly on the go.
Drink lots of water.
When you’re traveling, it’s easy to forget about how much water you are actually drinking. You might be spending a lot of time in the sun or walking around a new city all day, which can make staying hydrated even more difficult.
To stay healthy while traveling, it’s important to make sure that you are drinking enough water each day–even if what seems like an excessive amount may seem impossible at first! To help keep track of how much fluid intake is recommended for your body weight and activity level:
- Drink eight 8 oz glasses per day (four 16 oz glasses). This includes any coffee or tea with caffeine; alcoholic beverages don’t count toward this total. I like to track my water intake with an app.
- If you are active outdoors for long periods of time during hot weather–or when exercising vigorously–add another 4 oz per hour (2 cups) until your thirst is quenched again due to sweating out excess fluids through exercise.*
Stay active.
If you are trying to keep a workout routine up, take advantage of hotel gyms. I love hotel gyms because they are usually pretty empty, so I can have a super focused workout without worrying about bothering others.
If you don’t have access to a gym at the place you are staying, consider joining one that’s close to your destination (or multiple destinations).
Find the right chain restaurant
I’m not typically someone to push chain restaurants, but if you travel frequently for work – one of my tips is to have 3-5 healthy items that you love that you can find at restaurant chains.
I have a bowl I love from CAVA; a bowl I love from Freebirds; a chicken sandwich combo I dream about at Chic Fil A; and a favorite sandwich order at Panera Bread.
If I am traveling and in a crunch, I don’t waste time looking at menus for the right items – I know exactly where to go, what to order and it’s speedy.
Make your own staples.
One of the best things you can do while traveling is to pack your own food. Not only will you save money and reduce waste, but it also gives you more control over what goes into your body.
One of my favorite things to eat is two tuna packets mixed with a rice packet, greek yogurt, and buffalo sauce. You barely need a fridge, and you just need a microwave. It’s one of my staples, along with beef jerky.
Find the coolest place to hike on your trip
Finding the coolest place to hike on your trip is a lot like finding the best place to eat in a new city: You want to be close to your hotel, but not too close. You want it to be free and easy, but not boring. And, most importantly, you need something that sounds interesting enough for you to feel like leaving your hotel room at all.
Hiking in a new city can also help you figure out where all those landmarks are located–which means when someone asks where they should go sightseeing on their next visit (which happens often), you’ll have some good recommendations!
You can still stay healthy while traveling
While traveling, it can be hard to stay healthy. The stress of travel and the challenges of finding healthy food, exercising, and sleeping are all factors that make staying on your usual routine difficult. However, there are still ways you can maintain your health while traveling!
We hope this guide has helped you find the best tips and tricks for staying healthy while traveling.
