Healthy travel snacks: one of the first things you want to pack when flying away for work or play; you don’t want all that hard work you put into your body and health to go out the window - right?
We live in a wonderful time in history where both air and international travel are accessible and affordable, and we often forget the toll travel takes on our bodies. Most of the times our biggest travel worries are:
- Making it to the airport on time (with the passport)
- Keeping TSA off our backs
- Avoiding extra baggage fees
However, frequent flying and traveling can have a negative impact on your physical health. And most of the times we don’t even think about it!
Now, this is not trying to scare you away from traveling - on the contrary! We’re going to arm you with the knowledge of everything that may happen to your body while traveling, and how healthy travel snacks can help keep you safe.
You can mitigate most “travel ailments” with nutrition, sleep, and a little preparation.
What Travel Does to The Body
Long-distance, frequent, international, and air travel all have separate consequences on the physical and mental body. Sometimes, these issues happen on the spot, others take days to develop, but they all tax your system.
When you’re involved in frequent, long-haul, and international air travel, that’s a whole new level.
Flying on a plane exposes you to radiation, dehydration, oxidative stress, restricted movement, pressure, sleep deprivation, and about a hundred people in various states of health (or disease) all trapped in a confined space at high altitude.
That’s like a pressure cooker for your body, and it’s better to prepare for it.
Then, after you get off the plane there’s bloating, foreign food, different tap water, jet lag, and more. If maintaining healthy habits is a challenge at home, it gets a little bit harder when you’re out of your environment and comfort zone.
Don’t worry, we have you covered with all the tips for healthy travel snacks per issue, and how to eat healthy while traveling to keep your fitness goals on track.
Healthy Travel Snacks to Rock Your Trip
Eating healthy while traveling is a great way to stay ahead of the game. Here’s what you should be looking for to nourish your body with immune-boosting superfoods, gut-pleasing probiotics, antioxidants, and rest-inducing natural aids.
Radiation:
WiFi routers, your cellphone, Bluetooth headphones, radios, the body scanner at security, and so many other electrical devices emit Non-Native Electromagnetic Fields (nnEMF) which according to some research, and depending on the proximity, may cause:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Sleep disturbance
- Depression
- Visual discomfort or perturbation
- More!
Prevent it with Distance + Antioxidants
Your best aid against this type of radiation is to get distance from the source, but because it’s hard to get space in a plane, your second best bet is boosting your antioxidant intake to fight the oxidative stress caused by the nnEMF.
Healthy travel snacks:
- Acai has about ten times more antioxidants than other fruits
- Pecans and dark chocolate -both easy airport snacks. (Easy on the choc!)
- Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.
- Kale or Spinach (great in juices pre-flight)
- Beets
- Organifi Red Juice (our antioxidant powerhouse, just add water)
Dehydration
A common side effect of travel and air travel in particular. In a plane, the low humidity levels, salty snacks, and naturally dehydrating beverages (alcohol and caffeine) make it easy to get dehydrated without noticing. Also, you can get easily sidetracked and forget to drink enough water, especially when you got rid of liquids before.
Prevent it With Water and Hydrating Foods
The best thing to do is to prepare for it: carry a reusable water bottle and refill once you’re past security. Say yes to water when it’s offered during the flight and avoid alcohol.
Healthy Travel Snacks:
- Watermelon
- Cucumber sticks
- Lettuce
- Celery
- Tomatoes
Bloating
Cabin pressure at high altitude can cause gas to expand; this results in uncomfortable bloating. Likewise, new foods -even in your own country- can shock your system and alter digestion.
Prevent it with Probiotics + Avoid Fizzy Drinks
Sodas are never your friends and you’re probably avoiding them already, but other carbonated drinks have made their way to the fitness drink section - avoid them too. Have probiotics to balance your gut and help digestion when you need it the most. Consider a probiotic supplement too.
Healthy Travel Snacks:
- Plain Greek Yogurt
- Kefir Milk or Smoothie
- Kombucha
- Skyr (traditional Icelandic yogurt)
- Brine-cured Olives
Jet Lag and Sleep Deprivation
The circadian rhythm regulates hormone secretion, wake and sleep cycles, and hunger among others. Lack of -or poor- sleep prior to a flight, coupled with little rest on the flight and time zone changes affects your body’s internal cycles. Jet Lag is the consequence of that alteration; the rule of thumb is that for every hour jumped you’ll need about a day to recover.
Prevent it With Adaptogens and Herbs
Jet lag may be inevitable for some, but poor sleep doesn’t have to be. Adaptogens help the body manage stressors, move from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic nervous system, and manage energy more efficiently. Calming plants like chamomile and lavender may help you relax.
Healthy Travel Snacks:
- Chamomile and Lavender cookies by PurposefullLife
- Valerian drops in water
- Reishi Mushroom Powder
- Coconut water (could even out blood pressure)
- Organifi Gold our soothing evening drink powder
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot somewhere deep in the body, usually within the legs, blocking a vein it can be very painful and also dangerous - it could result in pulmonary embolism. Sitting for a long time may lead to poor circulation, swollen legs or feet, and DTV.
Prevent it With Movement and Hydration
If you’re on a long flight, car or train ride, try to move your feet in circular motions, get up to walk around the isle, and switch positions if you cross your legs. Invest in compression socks and avoid alcohol.
Healthy Travel Snacks:
- Ginger tea or ginger snacks
- Pomegranates
- Berries
- Beets
Weakened Immune System
The oxidative stress associated with changes in time zone, poor sleep, and exposure to germs, viruses, and foreign bodies can also depress the immune system and make you more vulnerable to illness.
Prevent it with Antioxidants and Vitamins
Vitamin C, B, and A help keep your immune response up, while antioxidants neutralize and repair damage from free radicals, resulting from oxidative stress. If you’re feeling it already coming on, you can learn how to boost your immune system before takeoff.
Healthy Travel Snacks
- Turmeric and ginger shots
- Orange slices
- Guava bites
- Strawberries
- Broccoli, Kale, Snow Peas
- Green Juice Go Packs (portable 9gr packs of 11 green superfoods)
Bonus: Our Immunity Go Packs are precisely designed to give you that Vitamin C boost with other anti-flu superfoods.
Mental Stress
We go away to relax sometimes, but even the calmest person can feel the stress of planning, packing, traveling, and making plans happen. When you’re traveling there is a lot of mental stress and it’s easy to drop something, forget or have a hard time focusing.
Prevent it With Relaxation and Superfoods
Practicing mindfulness, breathing exercises, and meditation will help you increase mental focus while traveling so you don’t lose a passport or a flight.
Healthy Travel Snacks
- Oatmeal
- Water
- Blueberries
- Guarana juice
- Salmon
- Beets
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Organifi Pure
Acne
It may seem like the smallest of your worries in this list, but it is a common and uncomfortable consequence of travel and changes in the environment. After dietary changes, air pollution, and the dryness in the plane, your skin needs a reprieve.
Prevent it Moisturizing and Detoxing
Bringing a moisturizing or hydrating mask on the plane with you will help your face, eating some healthy travel snacks for your liver will be even better. Detoxifying from the inside out
Healthy Travel Snacks:
- Blueberries
- Cranberries
- Beetroot Juice
- Spinach and Hummus sandwich
- Nut mix
Bottom Line:
Travel has a physical impact on our bodies, eating healthy while traveling may help manage or prevent the most common ailments, but the impact will always be there. Finding o preparing healthy travel snacks can give you an edge at the most critical points of travel: before and on the air.
Fruit cuts, veggie slices, and water can help you keep hunger and unhealthy choices at bay during travel days. We recommend packing snacks in your hand luggage and focusing on a mix of fruits, nuts, and superfoods. It's easy to pack Green GoPacks, Pure and Probiotics in your bag. But, you can also put a few scoops of your favorite supplement into a baggie and bring it with!