It is much easier to keep to a healthy routine when you are at home. You have easy access to your own food, bed and creature comforts.

I'm not sure about you, but when I go away, even if it's for a weekend, my healthy choices tend to fall off the wagon. The exception to this is when I'm away at a health retreat. If you fall off the wagon there, you're in trouble ;)

Throughout my last few trips, I have come up with some simple strategies while travelling to help me stay on track and feeling good, so when I return home, it doesn't become a mission to slip back into normal life.

Here are 7 tips for your travels:

Always have a bottle of water with you. When we are out of the routine and convenience of drinking water, we tend not to. Staying hydrated is very important, particularly if you are flying. I’m pretty pedantic about my water from a health perspective, so I take a mini BMP Waterman with me when I go away.

Go prepared with your own healthy snacks so you are not forced to eat processed food if that's all that's available. It's also a handy way to avoid paying big money for airport food. Fruit is a great one to take with you and is super convenient. Muesli, muesli bars, bliss balls, nuts etc are sustaining too.

I detest plane food. I used to love the novelty of it, but now I have a better understanding of what's in it and how processed it is - additives, preservatives....all those yuckky things that are necessary to keep the food from going off and stored in a variety of conditions, not to mention the low quality of food to keep the airline costs down. Have you ever read the labels on the food they give you!? Scary stuff. My digestive system is also not on board with plane food. Before I leave home and head to the airport or on the road, I have a big wholesome meal that will last me a long distance. Then I rely on my own snacks along the way.

Always pack your runners. Unless you are on a super strict schedule that doesn't allow for a moment to yourself, I always find there is at least 30 minutes a day where you can go for a walk. It's a great way to see the local area and stretch your legs after your travels of either sitting down in airports/planes or in the car.

If you are a fan of stretching or yoga, pack a mat or lightweight towel/sarong that you can pop on the floor (for me this a hygiene protector too, especially in hotel rooms). If you use a massage ball, this is a great item to pack too and it doesn't take up any space. When I'm road tripping and have the luxury of over-packing, I also pack my foam roller. It is the best thing after hours of sitting in the car.

Talking about hygiene, I don't travel anywhere without a little hand sanitiser. I'm a self-confessed germ-a-phobe when it comes to public transport/spaces/bathrooms so I like to minimise my risk of germs and sickness by using a hand sanitiser, particularly before eating. My favourite low-tox brand is Dr Bronners.

Essential oils are a great little addition while you're travelling. They can assist in travel sickness (ginger), alertness if you are driving or tired after travelling (grapefruit, peppermint or rosemary) or if you need help getting to sleep (lavender). You can take your own oils or there are lots of different rollers and sprays on the market.

Kate xo

P.S. If you have time to prep some snacks to take on your travels, I can highly recommend these Tahini Bliss Balls

Maintaining health while travelling