I travel quite a bit. And I’m not talking about short domestic trips, I’m talking trips across the world. So, healthy preparation and travel tips have become an expertise of mine simply through trial and error.
For those of you who don’t know me very well, I’m from America but I live in New Zealand. I am very family oriented and have amazing friends I grew up with so I like to go home every 6-7 months.
When I travel across the country I might be embarking on 24+ hours of straight travel without much sleep and multiple plane rides.
Today, I am going to share with you my favorite Optimal Beauty travel tips! You can use these on any international or domestic flight and road trips too.
- Prep your food! Many people don’t know that you can bring any food and any amount of food you want (as long as it fits the carry-on baggage requirements) and doesn’t contain liquid which you can deal with after you get through security. The trick here is making sure the food you’re bringing is A) Filling B) Delicious so you’re not tempted and satisfied C) Nutritious so you can thrive as much as possible. Fab food to bring can be a quinoa salad with nutritional yeast and lemons on the side, quinoa or other grain prepped with coconut oil, salt and pepper, pancakes (yes they travel well!), veggie sticks, fruit, nuts & seeds, 100% dried fruit bar, healthy chocolate such as Luvju from Loving Earth (for sweet cravings). I also bring various selections of tea bags. I bring 3 types 1) for relaxation such as chamomile or Yogi’s Bedtime 2) green tea or peppermint for revitalization 3) favorite tea of the moment which could be anything from vanilla rooibos, Yogi Skin Detox, etc. I also make sure to bring an empty water bottle with me, fill it up in the airport after security as well as buying 2 extra Liter bottles. I also pack super foods in a baggy to take to the nearest juice/smoothie bar (there is almost always somewhere in an airport with a blender) and ask them to blend it with ice and water and sometimes fruit too. Just make sure to tell them NOT to add sugar because a lot of the time they will think you want it. An example of a good super food blend might be: green powder, cacao powder, maca powder, cinnamon, desiccated coconut, brown rice/pea protein powder.
- Equipment. I highly recommend a neck pillow which you can pick up at the airport. They’re small enough to carry around/find a spot for in your bag and very comfortable. Lavender essential oil is always in my bag of goodies for relaxation. Put a few drops on your temples and rub in a circular motion. This will help you relax. Same method with citrus or peppermint essential oil for when you need to wake up. Bring layers. It tends to be very cold on flights and domestic flights don’t always have blankets and international flights don’t always have extras (which I always find I want). A sleep mask. They do give you one on international flights, but you might want to bring your own just in case. The darkness the mask provides will help you fall asleep more easily as light kills the melatonin you need to promote sleep. A good book. Music on your iPod, iPhone, etc. I also bring Chlorella or Spirulina tablets to take in between meals as they help curb appetite and contain a huge array of vitamins and minerals. I also make sure I bring a sufficient amount of my vitamins and supplements depending on travel time. Probiotics, digestive enzymes, milk thistle, B-Vitamisn are all on my list. You might want to bring along some organic stevia for sweetening your herbal tea with and you might want to carry on some toothpaste, a toothbrush, a hairbrush, deodorant and natural perfume. After long flights you’re likely going to be a littttttle stale. Better to have these things with you than searching for them in-between flights.
- Starbucks is very useful. You can always get a cup of hot water to steep your organic tea in and if you’re not allergic to gluten you can oder their oatmeal (contains small amount of gluten) without the toppings and steeped in hot water. Flavor with stevia and cinnamon (provided there) and eat as a healthy, filling meal or snack! Delish.
- Stretch and walk. During your layovers and on your flights walk around and stretch. Blood clots can occur from sitting for too long. Keep your circulation in motion by stretching and walking as much as possible. Also, it is helpful to wear loose clothing for better circulation and that way your feet and ankles will be less likely to swell up.
- Hydrate. I mentioned the importance of stocking up on water above but it’s important to know that flying is extremely dehydrating and you should make a point to drink even more than usual. Coconut water is the perfect energy drink/way to completely hydrate and replenish your electrolytes. If you can find coconut water at the airport you can mix it with green powder for one of the most nutritious snacks in the world.
- Be prepared to just relax and chill out. This is important for international flights. They ARE SO LONG and if you’re antsy to “do something” you’re just simply out of luck. It will help a lot with boredom if you just accept that this is a time for you to relax.
I hope this helps!
Do you have any other tips to add to the list?
Are you ready to take action and start living your Optimal Beauty dreams? If you answered yes to this question click the button below so we can chat one-on-one about your goals, previous set-backs and the life of your dreams.
Brenda Janschek is a qualified health coach, supporting busy mums to raise happy, healthy families through preventative health She is a speaker, wellness blogger, and a busy mother of two.
healthandwellnesswithdanielle.wordpress.com 