How I stay healthy while traveling [travel-friendly recipe inside!]

You know what makes me thrive? Awesome trips and vacations on my calendar. No matter what I have going on in my life, as long as I make sure these are happening, I’m good to go. [Did you see all the awesome fun I had at Coachella this past weekend?!]

One of the most common complaints I often hear about traveling, though, is that your healthy eating and exercise habits go out the window. This can be so frustrating when you’ve worked so hard to develop your healthier routines.

Well I’m here to tell you I’m living proof that this doesn’t have to be the case. You CAN travel and continue to live your healthiest life, and I’m going to share with you how easy it is to do! [Share these travel-friendly health tips.]

Buy or make kale salad to bring along – I always make and pack a massaged kale salad for the hubs and I for any flight we take. The stuff they feed you on the airplane is crap, and not at all filling, so by doing a little bit of prep work ahead of time, you’ll be full, satisfied, and ready to enjoy your trip. Want to make it even easier? My famous massaged kale salad recipe is below!

Massaged Kale Salad with Apples and Almonds

Ingredients:

About 3-4 generous cups washed and chopped kale (Lacinato or Dinosaur kale works great)

1 tbsp olive oil (or more as needed)

Juice of 1 lemon

½ large carrot, shredded directly into salad

¼ cup cranberries

½ cup raw almonds, chopped

1 tbsp hemp seeds

½ apple, finely diced

½-1 tsp cumin

½-1 tsp turmeric

Sea salt

Fresh ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Cut lemon in half and pre-measure and prep spices (you’ll need them ready to go after massaging).

2. Pour 1 tbsp (more if needed) of olive oil over kale, and sprinkle with sea salt. With clean hands, massage” the kale so that all of the oil is coating it and it begins to wilt.

3. Squeeze lemon juice and add seasonings. Continue to massage the kale.

4. Toss in remaining ingredients and mix.

5. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Allow salad to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Pack a refillable water bottle – Drinking plenty of water is important all the time, including while traveling. It helps… By packing a refillable bottle, you cut down on waste, the amount of crap you have to carry, and you can utilize cool refill stations like the one at Laguardia International below.

Pack healthy snacks – Apples and almonds (like these great probiotic ones) are easy to pack and carry, and provide a delicious and filling snack on your journey.

Meditate to help center yourself – How many times do you hear people say that they need a vacation after their vacation? It doesn’t have to be this way. Take time for yourself in your new space; you don’t have to jump right in to stressful activities. 

Make exercise a priority – No matter where I’m at, I make sure exercise is a priority. Moving your body can make you feel so much better, especially when you’re in a new place. You might even be able to locate fun and exciting ways to move where you’re traveling.

I know I’m not the only one who has tips to share to live a healthy life while traveling. I want you to spill your best kept secret with us in the comments below!