Don't Leave Your Healthy Habits at Home

By Luisa Szakacs, CNC - Marpé Nutrition

Several people have asked if I was able to keep up with my healthy routine while we were in Fiji. The answer is yes, mostly. Traveling does not have to mean abandoning healthy habits. No, I did not eat perfectly every day, and that is okay. The goal is not perfection. It is simply giving your body support while still enjoying the adventure.

Even while traveling, I wanted to keep a few of my daily routines. I knew I would not do everything exactly as I do at home, but bringing along a few simple habits helped me feel my best throughout the trip.

Keep one familiar daily habit

One habit I was determined to keep was my morning green juice. Since I make fresh juice at home every day, I froze small bottles of Suja Green Juice before we left. I packed two in our carry-on for the long flights and the rest in a cooler inside my checked suitcase.

Here is a travel tip many people do not realize: TSA allows frozen liquids through security as long as they are completely frozen at the checkpoint. That made it possible for me to bring my green juice on the flight.

Each morning, I poured one bottle into my cup, added clean water from my Berkey, squeezed in the juice of one fresh lemon picked from a local tree, and mixed in two capsules of Standard Process Cruciferous Complete. It was not exactly the same as my homemade juice, but it helped me continue one of my favorite daily habits.

Healthy routines can bring people together

I also packed a small container of my sourdough starter because I was not about to travel all the way to Fiji without fresh homemade bread. One of my favorite memories was teaching some of the local ladies how to make sourdough. We spent the afternoon mixing dough together, laughing, and later enjoying fresh bread right out of the oven.

It was a wonderful reminder that healthy habits can also bring people together.

Make the best choice available

The only time I could not use my Berkey was while traveling through the airports. I had to laugh because I found myself buying Fiji Water while I was actually in Fiji. Thankfully, Fiji Water is inexpensive there, so it was an easy choice. Sometimes the goal is not finding the perfect solution. It is simply making the best choice available.

I also packed healthy snacks so I was not dependent on airport food or convenience stores. My favorites included Top Seedz crackers, Archer beef sticks, olive packets, seaweed snacks, and SunButter.

Once we arrived, I focused on eating the best I could without adding stress to every meal. We enjoyed fresh local foods, stayed well hydrated, walked as much as we could, and appreciated the opportunity to experience another culture.

Simple reminders for summer travel

• Pack healthy snacks before you leave.
• Do not leave your healthy habits at home.
• Stay well hydrated throughout your trip.
• Choose fresh, local foods whenever possible.
• Make the best choices available without stressing over every meal.
• When you get home, simply return to your normal healthy routine.

Travel is meant to be enjoyed. You do not have to choose between making healthy choices and making wonderful memories. With a little planning, you can do both.