Healthy travel snacks: What should you have in your travel pack?

Written by Titus Perry

NASM-CPT, NASM-PES, AFPA-CHN

5 tips to eating healthy on the go!

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich

Traveling... it can be so much fun and yet so hectic at the same time. Packing bags, kids, pets, and your own essentials can be quite a lot to handle! Thinking about what snacks to bring for yourself and/or the whole family can be difficult, especially when remaining health conscious.

There's a lot of people who would put off the task of maintaining their normal healthy eating habits when going on vacation, but if you're not one of those people then I am here to tell you there is a way to stay on track! It just requires a little bit of planning.

Summer and holiday's usually mean more eating out, more drinks, and more convenience snacking. Here's what you can do to mitigate the damage and maintain your progress.

Tip #1 - Don't overcomplicate things

Many times, we overcomplicate things and make life harder on ourselves without even realizing. For the health-conscious individual it is important to remember that there are times where you can loosen up. Your snack pack doesn't have to be as meticulous as your meal prep.

Tip #2 - Preparation is key

Now, even though you don't have to plan as intensely for your travel snacks, you should still be mindful in keeping a few things in consideration. To overindulge in too many goodies over your break could make it difficult to transition back once you've hopped off cloud nine and you may find you've taken a step back when you return to your regular schedule. Ensure you do not lose sight of your long-term goals for short term pleasures. It's much easier to fall off track if you do not think ahead.

Be deliberate. Prepare with this in mind.

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." – Benjamin Franklin

Tip #3 - Consider the length of your trip

For myself, the length of a trip was central to determining which snacks I brought and how many. Shorter trips lasting 1-3 days were easy. I would have a couple of ziploc bags in my backpack filled with blends of dried fruit like apricots, raisins, and cranberries mixed with pistachios or almonds. This would be paired with 2-3 protein bars (barbell being my favorite brand currently), and I'd also slip in a couple of cans of coconut water with a bag of baked chips.

For longer trips however, especially traveling with small children, it would be more important to ensure each child has a snack pack that fits their appetite and preferences, just as you would for yourself. Ensuring you have enough on board for everyone can eliminate the need to spend money on snacks along the way as well.

Tip #4 - Mix it up

Snacks are meant to be fun and enjoyable! As stated in tip#1, your snack pack doesn't have to be as meticulously constructed as your regular meals, or even the vacation you've planned. You can have fun mixing and matching various flavors, and while I still recommend keeping quality in mind, you can loosen up a little bit in this area.

Besides, you've been disciplined and consistent for weeks and months, you have 100% earned a little leeway when it comes to your snacks. Enjoy the varied tastes and textures. The sweet n salty blend in your homemade trail mix, the savoriness of your favorite beef jerky, or the satisfying crunch of roasted edamame, kale chips, or baked sweet potato chips! For those with the discipline to not overindulge, a "less healthy" option can be tossed in for the special occasion, like a small pack of gummies for example.

Tip #5 - Know your limitations

Lastly, know your limitations, or in other words, "know yourself".

For some of us, a little leeway is the catalyst to certain failure. A taste of the forbidden fruit can result in a binge episode that could potentially last much longer than we originally planned. If you struggle to control your cravings for unhealthy foods once you get started, the wise thing to do is to not get started! Do not put yourself in position to undo some of the amazing work you've been doing, no matter if it's been for a week, a month, or a year. You owe it to yourself to be the best version of yourself you can be!

I imagine that would be a big part of why you started on this journey in the first place.

Know yourself and be true to yourself, the enduring satisfaction of overcoming your inner demons will ALWAYS outweigh the temporary high of indulging in fleeting pleasures.

Conclusion

Just like with anything regarding fitness and nutrition, quality is always most important. While you can grant yourself some extra freedom with the contents of your travel snacks, still be mindful and discerning with regards to your fitness and nutrition goals.

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