How to Eat Healthy While Travelling and Keep your Digestion Working

Eating healthy when you are traveling can be tricky. Healthy choices may not be available while you are on the road, or you may not know where to find them in an unfamiliar location.

January is the month when many people here in the North plan getaways to warmer climates.  Being away on holiday should be a carefree, fun and happy time, however, many people often come home complaining of digestive upsets and not feeling quite right.

For a lot of people, digestion can get off track when traveling. Do you know our digestive system is closely tied to our immunity? If our digestive system is functioning optimally, there is a better chance that we stay healthy too.

Here are a few convenient ways to eat healthy while travelling and keep your digestion healthy:

• Eat foods rich in probiotics:  kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi; or take probiotic supplements. Plain yoghurt helps, but don't rely solely on that to meet your daily probiotic needs.
• Drink fresh juice of carrot and apple to aid colon function. You can also eat them whole.
• Pack packets of green juice powder with you – it helps balance your blood pH and some also contains prebiotics aid the growth of probiotics.
• Drink a cup of warm water with fresh lemon juice (about 2 Tbsp) first thing in the morning – it supports liver function so it is particularly helpful if you have been drinking alcohol or eating greasy foods.
• Eat high-fiber foods – e.g. order oatmeal for breakfast, and opt for whole grains in your meals.
• Keep up your fruit and vegetable intake – e.g. start your meals with a salad, grab an apple for snack.
• If regularity is a challenge:
  • Try prune juice or dried prune.
  • Before you leave for your trip, mix ground flaxseed with psyllium husks, store the mixture in a container and sprinkle it on your food (e.g. on your breakfast oatmeal or your yogurt snack).
  • Take magnesium citrate and/or vitamin C supplements.

If you are planning a holiday soon, and want recommendations on how to stay healthy while travelling, please be sure to contact me for a complimentary nutrition session, where we can discuss how to stay healthy while you're away.