Finding Joy Through Food as a Traveler
After moving to Madrid in September, I’ve been fortunate to seize many travel opportunities. Moving abroad and spending time in European countries has been a dream of mine since college, and it’s been incredible to see that dream come to fruition this year!
However, spending lots of time on the go often means that I end up sacrificing nourishing meals and snacks at the expense of saving money or saving time, or there being limited options in general. Usually, I’m filling up on pre-made grocery store sandwiches, fast food, and non-substantial snacks like chips or sweets because these are often the most convenient and available almost anywhere. While these fast foods are fine once in a while, the lack of fruits, veggies, substantial protein, or overload of carbs can feel hard on the body after a couple of days, especially when you might be exhausted from other things like sleeping in a different bed, walking miles daily, possibly navigating a different language, etc. Another issue: these foods aren’t fun!
While traveling, my friends and I tend to find ourselves battling against spending money on a good meal or on tickets to do something more adventurous or touristy, and, as budget travelers, this battle is very real. But, as humans, we spend so much of our time eating as it’s not only one of the main ways we get our energy, but something we often gather around that brings people together in times of celebration, grief, relaxation, and many of life’s moments; it should be enjoyable and fulfilling, especially while exploring and soaking up a new place. A country or city’s food is a major piece of its culture, and it’s so much more fun to eat the local foods that give your taste buds a unique, cultural experience.
Sometimes, you really can’t avoid grabbing what’s convenient, and you may have to opt for something quick rather than special. However, when there is space to choose, listen to what your body is telling you. If you’re feeling adventurous, try something you’ve never tried before, or, if you’re at the point of exhaustion, eat a meal that sounds comfortable and refreshing.
Below you’ll find some of our healthy travel tips AND a collection of my favorite pictures of food from some of my travels!
Five Tips To Stay Healthy While Traveling:
Drink plenty of filtered water every day + add in electrolytes - aim for at least 16 ounces of filtered (or natural spring) water within the first hour of waking up, then plenty more throughout the day. Add 1-2 servings of electrolytes into your water (in the morning and also during/after workouts) to support optimal health and energy levels.
Our favorite electrolytes for travel: LMNT (click here for a free sample pack of electrolytes with your first order!)
Take a probiotic every single day - either first thing in the morning or right before bed at night. Ideally, get one that doesn’t have to be refrigerated so that you can take it around with you. This is going to ensure that your digestive, hormonal, and immune health stays optimal while traveling around and exposing yourself to different bacteria!
Drink a greens powder daily (or at least 5 days/week!); sometimes it’s hard to get a lot of fresh fruits and veggies while traveling around, so thankfully there are beautiful greens powders out there that will supply your body with all the goodness you need from various greens, fruits, and veggies in a convenient form!
Check out the brands Organifi or Athletic Greens for two great options!
Buy two boxes of your favorite protein bars, pack them in your suitcase, and use as needed on travel days, in between meals, and/or as a nourishing snack when options are limited.
Favorite brand is definitely Aloha Bars
Some other great brands are: GoMacro, EPIC (Meat Bars), and Truwomen
Take a magnesium supplement before bed to support your sleep quality, nervous system, and digestive health! Sometimes, travel can disrupt sleep cycles and/or mess with your digestion; magnesium is our go-to supplement to support this. We recommend taking a magnesium powder, as it’s easy to pack, but you can get pills as well!
Two good brands include: MagSoothe (JigSaw Health) and Natural Calm
Recommendation: Download our free e-book, Joy With Food, which contains 30+ brand ideas for healthy snacks/treats, many of which are travel-friendly!
I’ve also included my own food photos (because phone eats first) and anecdotes with each one, as trying new foods and experimenting with food are some of my favorite parts of not only traveling, but living! I hope these stories might inspire you to have fun with your food and eating experiences, while also tuning into your body’s needs.
I traveled to Brussels to meet a friend (who is also living abroad) and I had a bit of a cold, and I was craving something light, fresh, and green. We stopped at a brunch spot that had a delicious Turkish Çılbır (Turkish poached eggs)on their menu and it immediately caught my eye. Safe to say it was exactly what I needed to satisfy my craving and kept me fueled up through our long day!
On a trip to Ireland, my friends and I had eaten several hearty, Irish breakfasts. While incredibly delicious, the traditional Irish breakfast is packed with heavy ingredients like sausage, potatoes, bacon, and bread, all of which often left me in a food coma. So, for this day, I opted for a Vegetarian Irish breakfast with portobello mushroom, tomatoes, poached eggs, and halloumi cheese to switch it up.
When staying at an Airbnb or some hostels/hotels, more often than not you should have access to a refrigerator, and maybe even a full kitchen. It’s nice to keep some fruit, cheeses, crackers, and meats on hand for a quick, healthy, and filling snack when you come back from a long day!
While in Edinburgh, Scotland, I came down with a cold (again). It was a gloomy, rainy day, and nothing sounded better than this traditional, Scottish soup called “Cullen Skink”. Paired with a warm English tea, it was the perfect mood booster and, again, satisfied what my body was craving; finding the balance between fun and nourishment.
My roommates and I discovered this restaurant when we were in our first week of living in Spain, and had been living off of grocery store snacks, tapas, and fast food. We all desperately needed greens, veggies, fruit, protein, and a meal to just make us feel good. Honest Greens changed our lives that day. This is just one of the many bowls I’ve had, but every dish is packed with whole, healthy, and seasonal ingredients. Spanish food is mainly made up of bread, potatoes, and cheese, so this was a game changer for us!
And, that’s a wrap! We hope you feel both empowered (through the healthy travel tips) and inspired (through the travel food photos) to stay nourished and joyful next time you go on a travel adventure!
Did you find this blog helpful?
🌻 Share it with a friend!
🌻 Screenshot and share on Instagram - make sure to tag us - @babes_rising and we’ll re-share!
Are you a young woman in your 20’s focusing on loving and caring for yourself?
Check out our group coaching journey - through customized coaching, empowering group coaching workshops, and transformational tools (like affirmation audio tracks and journaling prompts) we’ll help you connect to yourself, love yourself, and create a life that lights YOU up.
