Covid is waning, Summer is coming, and people are READY to travel!
I get a “salt hangover” (dehydration and poor digestion) after eating processed foods, and also from most restaurant foods. Plus, there’s just way too much sugar in the convenient options. So, when traveling, I need to think ahead and bring almost all of my own foods.
One of my favorite health gurus, Dr. Keesha Ewers, posted an article on her favorite food-tips for traveling clean, so I thought I’d par it down and share it with you…Happy and Healthy Travels!
1. Bring your own food (BYOF). An easy idea to bring is a tin of sardines or wild salmon (or nuts/seeds) and a baggie of cut veggies like red bell pepper, snap peas, and baby carrots. One of my favorite packable snacks is a mixture I make of pomegranate seeds, large flaked un-sweetened coconut, and walnuts. I put that in a baggie and it holds up great on the road. My current favorite emergency protein bars are Macro Bars, RX bars, and Primal Kitchen bars.
2. Do a little research before you travel. Make this a habit before you travel. It’s so easy to have food from Whole Foods’s Instacart delivered right to your hotel room now. If you are taking Lyft, your driver will take you to the local organic market as long as you give him or her an address. You can also find out where local fresh pressed juice is available on the Pressed Juiced Directory. Make sure you dilute juiced fruit 50/50 with water, otherwise juiced fruit is pure sugar when you remove the fiber.
3. Order off a menu the smart way. Use the menu as a guideline and ask for substitutions when you need to. Most restaurants are very accommodating these days I have found. Build a salad, order steamed veggies with salmon or chicken, or in a pinch mix quinoa or brown rice with a veggie medley. Leave out the sauces and ask for butter or olive oil and lemon juice.
4. Make sure your hotel has an in-room fridge that is not already stocked with alcohol and junk. After you visit the health food store, stock your fridge with healthy fresh options that are easy to grab and eat. Some of my travel-friendly favorites are apples and raw tahini, mixed greens with olive oil and lemon juice and sea salt, avocados, baby carrots and hummus, mixed seeds and nuts, fresh organic blueberries, and a cooked chicken breast from the deli.
5. Bring along a small blender or ask the hotel if they will provide one. A blender really makes healthy traveling so much easier! I’ve got a small Nutribullet that packs easily in most suitcases. Surprisingly, some of the nicer hotels will even provide a blender in your room. This makes smoothie-making a breeze! I even make my famous “Hotel Room Chocolate Cherry Delight” in my blender when I’m on the road. I am a recovering sugar addict. I have the ingredients delivered to my hotel room if I’m away from home for more than 2 or 3 days. Easy! (see recipe below, and the Amazing Spirulina Smoothie!)
7. Take psyllium fiber if you end up eating white flour products or lots of cheese, to keep your digestive system happy. We all know that travel can cause constipation.
8. Move your body. The body thrives on movement! Building exercise into your trip, even if it’s only 20 minutes a day, can keep you feeling energized and vibrant. Check out your in-room television system.The hotels often offer routines you can do right in the comfort of your hotel room. Then there’s the gym you can also utilize.
9. Hydrate. For most of us, traveling means we’re eating out more than usual. The result is that we consume more sodium in our food, which can leave us feeling bloated. Make sure to drink at least ½ of your body weight in ounces plus a little more if you are at altitude or exercising vigorously.
10. Rest. Bring an eye pillow or mask, some lavender essential oil and ear plugs. Unplug your hotel alarm clock, sprinkle your pillow with lavender oil, draw the blinds and power down all of your electronic devices. If you need a little extra help falling asleep, try our Sleep Well supplement.
Dr. Keesha’s Hotel Room Chocolate Cherry Delight
Just Blend
1 ripe peeled and pitted avocado
3/4 cup frozen organic tart cherries
3 Tablespoons raw cacao powder
3 TBSP water
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
A dollop of coconut cream from the top of a can of organic full fat coconut milk
monk fruit or stevia to taste (add slowly until you get it just right)
pinch of sea salt