Traveling is a fantastic experience, but staying healthy can be a challenge, especially if you’re used to “clean eating” and organic products. If you typically source fresh, natural ingredients directly from the farmer, it can be frustrating to compromise during your vacation. This is even more true if, like me, you try to avoid vegetable oils and unnecessary sugars as much as possible. For my two-year-old child, it’s even more important that he eats healthily, but unfortunately, that’s not always possible when traveling. How do you handle this?
Conscious Choices Before Planning
To have more control over our food, we often choose apartments or houses with a kitchen during vacations. This way, we can cook ourselves and ensure the quality of the ingredients. When staying in hotels, we consciously look for places that offer organic or natural food. Fortunately, there are enough hotels that carefully manage their food offerings, allowing us to eat healthily there as well. Additionally, we prefer accommodations in less touristy areas, where local food is promoted. This way, we support the local economy and enjoy authentic, regional dishes.
Must-Haves for Healthy Eating While Traveling
Although we also enjoy eating out at local restaurants, we like to cook our own meals during vacations to prepare nutritious and quick dishes. Here are six essential tips I always keep in mind to eat healthily, no matter where I am.
1. Quality Broth
One of the basic principles of healthy eating, even while traveling, is preparing nutritious dishes like a good broth. Bringing Babs Bone Broth (BBB) on a trip isn’t always possible, and finding quality bone broth in supermarkets or natural food stores is often a challenge. That’s why we often make our own broth.
During the vacation, I keep it simple and usually use a whole organic chicken or one that hasn’t been treated with antibiotics. A whole chicken is a practical choice because it not only gives you a tasty broth, but you can also use the chicken for soups or salads. For a broth rich in gelatin, you need more specific bones, but even within 2 to 3 hours, you can make a good base broth to enjoy.
Click here for a simple broth recipe you can make anywhere.
2. Celtic Sea Salt or Other Natural Salt
Celtic sea salt is a rich source of over 80 essential minerals, indispensable for your daily health. This unrefined salt regulates fluid balance, blood pressure, and supports muscles and nerves. An easy way to benefit from it is by adding a pinch to your water. This helps keep your body better hydrated and provides essential minerals, especially while traveling.
When choosing salt, it’s important to avoid refined table salt, as it often lacks essential minerals. Make sure to choose 100% pure and unprocessed salt. Celtic sea salt is our favorite and the only salt we use during the production process of Babs Bone Broth.
3. Healthy Fats
Healthy fats are essential, especially when traveling. Coconut oil, ghee, and extra virgin olive oil not only provide flavor but also important nutrients:
- Coconut oil: Ideal for frying and baking due to its high smoke point. Choose unrefined to retain its nutritional value.
- Ghee: Rich in vitamins A and E, perfect for high-temperature cooking. Use it, for example, for scrambled eggs, so you start your day with healthy fats.
- Extra virgin olive oil: Rich in antioxidants and healthy fats. Choose dark bottles to preserve the quality. Pay attention to the origin and, if possible, buy from local producers for the freshest and most flavorful oil.
If you can find grass-fed or organic tallow or lard, you’ve hit the jackpot! These fats are rich in fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K and offer an excellent source of energy. They’re perfect for frying and baking, and they add a deep, rich flavor to dishes.
4. Vegetables and Fruit
It sounds romantic: strolling through local markets and buying only fresh, colorful vegetables and fruit from local producers. But this is not always the reality. Often, you’re dependent on supermarkets where the selection of organic vegetables may be limited.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to thoroughly wash your vegetables and fruit. A simple yet effective method is to wash them with a little baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Soda helps remove pesticides, dirt, and wax layers better than water alone. Fill a bowl with water, add a tablespoon of soda, let the vegetables and fruit soak for a few minutes, and then rinse them well. This way, you can enjoy your produce with peace of mind, even if it didn’t come from a market.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Even while traveling, I like to have apple cider vinegar (ACV) on hand, whether it’s for my morning drink or as a base for a healthy dressing. A high-quality bottle, preferably unfiltered and organic, makes a big difference and helps me maintain my healthy habits while on the go.
Why Apple Cider Vinegar? ACV supports digestion, helps balance blood sugar levels, and can aid in weight loss. A glass of water with a splash of ACV in the morning kickstarts your digestion and gives you a fresh start to the day.
Healthy Dressing: ACV is also perfect as a dressing for salads. Mix it with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper for a simple yet flavorful dressing that’s also good for you.
6. Healthy Snacks
Healthy snacking on the go doesn’t have to be complicated. Think of nuts, preferably those you have to crack yourself, as they are often the least processed. If that’s not possible, opt for organic nuts without additives or refined oils.
Dried fruit like dates, figs, and prunes are also great options. They’re rich in fiber and natural sugars, making them a perfect energy boost.
Chocolate can also be a healthy snack, as long as you choose dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (at least 70%). Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and can give you a quick energy and mood boost without the unhealthy additives of milk chocolate.
Healthy eating while traveling may require a bit more preparation and conscious choices, but it ensures that you feel good and can fully enjoy your trip. By planning ahead and choosing local, natural products, you can stay true to your healthy habits even on the go. Whether you’re making your own broth, seeking out the best olive oil, or starting your day with a glass of water and apple cider vinegar – you can eat healthily while traveling and keep feeling great.
