When you’re working towards a fitness goal, traveling can throw a wrench into your progress and habit of eating healthy. You might have less control over what food you have access to and less time to train. If you’ve got long days on transportation, you’re more sedentary than usual. Enter new and different foods in different locations, and traveling can be a recipe for stress.
Zoom out and look at your overall lifestyle before your trip. Because your fitness goals may be as different as maintaining muscle, building muscle, or fat loss, eating “healthy” looks different for everyone. When traveling, think of healthy eating as roughly sticking to your nutrition goals. Go in with a plan for substitutions, but stay flexible to help maintain your long-term habits.
Editor’s Note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. When starting a new training regimen and/or diet, it is always a good idea to consult with a trusted medical professional. We are not a medical resource. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. They are not substitutes for consulting a qualified medical professional.
Before you head out on your trip, gather as much information as you can about what you’ll be able to control so you can go in with a plan.
Are you going to have access to a kitchen, or even a small refrigerator? Find out the situation in advance. You can bring protein-rich snacks, fresh fruits and veggies, or even pre-made smoothies to store in the fridge.
No fridge? No problem. You can bring non-perishable items (think: protein bars and nuts) to supplement the rest of your day when you may have less control over what you’re eating.
In the case that it’s not feasible to pack these things with you, check if there are any grocery stores near where you’re staying. If accessible, you can plan to buy your own goodies when you get there.
Bringing a refillable water bottle is a great way to stay hydrated on your travels. If you have access to safely drinking tap water, you can refill it throughout your day for free. If you’re going somewhere that you’ll need bottled water, add “buy water” to your daily to-do list on your trip. Stock up on water bottles to have in the place you’re staying, or buy a gallon and refill your reusable bottle.
Sometimes part of the fun of traveling is trying new restaurants and food. Allow yourself the flexibility to enjoy and be present, but a little planning in advance may help ease your stress. If you’ve chosen some places you’d like to try, you can be intentional with your nutrition during the rest of the day.
Think about the 80/20 rule, where 80 percent of the time you’ll fill up on foods like fruits, veggies, and protein, whereas 20 percent of the time you’re more flexible. If you’re in Italy and you’re going to have pasta, wine, and tiramisu for dinner, consider loading up on veggies and protein earlier in the day.
This way, your body still gets what it needs. You can then relax for your delicious meal at night.
Following the 80/20 rule — sticking closely to the plan 80 percent of the time — can help you stay flexible and enjoy unexpected changes to your regular eating habits. (1) Here, you’ll get the tools you need for that 80 percent.
For people with a history of disordered eating, there are resources to keep track of what you’re eating without getting into the numbers. One helpful way is to use the size of your palm, fist, and fingers to measure your portions.
For example, portion out your plate with half fruits and vegetables. Then go for a fistful of starches, a palm-sized portion of protein, and one or two thumb-sizes of fats. This can give you a visual guide for eating what you need without dipping into any numbers.
If it’s safe for you to count calories, check out BarBend’s calorie calculator to get specific about your goals.
Exercise: 15-30 minutes of elevated heart rate activity.
Intense exercise: 45-120 minutes of elevated heart rate activity.
Very intense exercise: 2+ hours of elevated heart rate activity.
With this tool, you can adjust the amount of activity you’re doing — so if you’re going to be a little less active while traveling, you can account for that here.
Remember that your body still needs energy from food, even if you’re not training as hard as usual. Use your calories as a rough guideline when you’re able to control what you’re eating, and stay flexible when you’re not.
Macronutrients: protein, carbs, and fats. When traveling, if you’re going to be eating out more, you can assume you’ll be getting some more fats than usual from the oil and butter used to prepare foods. Here’s a rule of thumb for how many macronutrients athletes may need per day:
BarBend has a macronutrient calculator you can use to check out your body’s needs based on your goals.
You can adjust your activity level if you’re going to be moving a little less, so take advantage of that feature when you’re on the road.
When it comes to macronutrients, carbs and fats are readily available when traveling. You may need to get a little more intentional about getting adequate protein while you’re away from your kitchen.
Check out BarBend’s protein intake calculator below to get a good estimate of what works best for your body and goals.
Exercise: 15-30 minutes of elevated heart rate activity.
Intense exercise: 45-120 minutes of elevated heart rate activity.
Very intense exercise: 2+ hours of elevated heart rate activity.
Prioritizing protein while traveling can have a positive impact on how you feel. Getting plenty of it at breakfast can keep you full longer. If you’re having a meal that’s focusing on carbs and fats, enjoy and try to get your protein needs in, as well. If you can’t, remember the 80/20 rule and try to get back to it tomorrow.
Staying hydrated while traveling and away from your normal routine can help you eat healthier (i.e., stick to your nutrition goals), as well. Being hydrated basically means getting enough fluids to replace the water you’re losing. (2)
If you’re drinking less water than usual, you may mistake your hunger for thirst. Or, you might be both hungry and thirsty — not a great combination for your mood or your goals.
Either way, it’s helpful to drink water when you feel thirsty, even if you’re going to be having other drinks while traveling.
If you’re on a muscle-building journey, your nutrition calls for a surplus of calories (in combination with hypertrophy training). If you’re looking to keep making gains while traveling, plan ahead on how you’ll be training while you’re away.
When you’re really into bulking season, you can feel like you’re eating a ton of food all day. If you need to condense that while you’re away, opt for foods with higher calories that create less volume. If you want to grab a protein shake after a workout, choose one with a variety of nutritious ingredients.
When you’re on the go, you might not have the same kind of access to food prep that you have at home. Helpful snacks like protein bars or high-quality jerky can come in handy to supplement the rest of what you’re eating while traveling. Your body may react differently if you’re not used to eating processed foods, so stay aware of how you feel, and keep up your water intake when you feel thirsty.
When your goal is maintaining muscle mass, you’re looking to eat around your maintenance level to preserve your muscle while potentially avoiding body fat gain. The 80/20 rule can apply here. While traveling, stick to your usual food choices as much as possible for 80 percent of your day, and allow 20 percent of room for flexibility.
Consider getting a to-go box to have some goodies for your next meal instead of eating past the point of being full in one sitting.
While you have plenty of options to keep weight training while you’re traveling, you can also take this as a chance to try some different movement practices. Adding more movement to your days can also give you more flexibility with what you’re eating. You don’t need to burn extra calories if you’re eating differently, but it can be something to play with.
If you’re eating a lot of meals out, you can use your hand to measure portions and stay roughly within your normal macros and calorie goals. Be sure your meals include a good source of protein to help you hang onto your muscle.
Depending on what kind of trip it is, maybe you’re going to be hiking, surfing, or swimming. If it’s a business trip to a new city, you can spend some more time walking to explore. And if you’re relaxing at a home with family for the holidays, try out a virtual yoga class, or take a jog around the neighborhood.
Losing body fat requires using more energy than what you take in each day. If you’ve been following a balanced eating plan, getting away from your kitchen may be a little worrisome. You can keep losing body fat while traveling, or you can take a little break to give your mind and body a chance to reset. (4)
Unless you have a medical reason, you may want to avoid restricting foods or food groups for fat loss, since inflexible restriction strategies generally lead to long-term weight gain. (5) If you’re tracking calories, stick with roughly the same intake you’ve been tracking at home.
Say that you normally eat three balanced meals and two snacks per day. Aiming to do something similar while traveling may be difficult, especially if you need to get all of your food from somewhere other than your own kitchen. Think of your usual habits as a total amount of food for the day, and split it up as you see fit.
If you’re going into your travels with fat loss in mind and are going to be watching your calorie intake, liquids are a great place to cut back without losing out on trying a new experience.
When losing body fat, it’s easy to get wrapped up in how much you can cut out of your diet. While traveling, take this chance to see what you can add in to stick to your goals and enjoy your food. Get local salads and fish, enjoy smoothies from local shops, and sip the greatest local coffee you can find.
Healthy is not a one-size-fits-all term. Eating healthily for someone who’s trying to bulk means something much different than eating healthily for someone trying to lose weight sustainably.
When you’re specific about your goals and habits, you can take those things with you on your travels. Try to roughly stick to your unique nutritional goals and needs while traveling. Allow for flexibility, stay active if you want to, and drink plenty of water. You’ll be back in your gym and your kitchen before you know it.
Featured Image: PintoArt / Shutterstock
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