Healthy holiday travel: Maintaining wellness while on the move

The holidays are here, arriving as always with favorite festivities and temptations to overindulge. To all my health-minded readers, especially those traveling to celebrate the season with family and friends, take heart: There are ways to make wellness achievable, even during the busiest travel seasons.

Staying on top of our wellness game during the holidays – especially when we’re away from home – can be quite a challenge. It’s one of those times that some of us may need to release our drive for perfection, and instead embrace a ‘good enough’ approach.

To help formulate your own plan, here’s a travel wellness toolkit for supporting health and vitality, no matter where the journey takes you.

Plan ahead for wellness

Traveling can easily derail the wellness routines we’ve worked so hard to establish. Although it goes without saying, I will say it anyway: planning ahead is vital. Staying true to wellness goals while on the go starts with packing a few essentials and employing key strategies that will help us embrace the joys of holiday travel without compromising mental or physical well-being.

Pack smart: The versatile backpack

A good backpack is the cornerstone of my travel gear, pulling double duty as a carry-on as well as a daily tote. Look for one that’s durable, versatile and spacious enough for storing everything from a laptop and a toiletry kit to sports gear.

Pro tip: When researching backpacks, I look for brands that feature storage for a basketball or soccer ball – and the size typically corresponds to 31 or 32 liters.  Both are odd things to look for in a backpack, I know. And while I’m not toting around a basketball or paying attention to the specific volume my backpack will hold, following these two guidelines does help to ensure that I’ll have plenty of space for travel essentials.

Smart snacking and local flavors

For me, experiencing local cuisine is a must, ideally balancing indulgence with wholesome fare along the way. Scope out local markets early in your trip. Stock up on nutritious staples like Greek yogurt, nuts, local cheese and fresh produce.

If you’re staying in a hotel, request a mini fridge for your room. Not only will it make it easier to keep healthy snacks around, it’s also a money- and time-saver.

Maintaining routine: supplements and fitness

Even on vacation (and especially on vacation), we often feel better when we stick to our wellness routines, at least as much as possible.

My daily routine includes supplements like collagen and creatine, which I take along in little portable containers when I travel. Keeping up with your usual supplement regime can help support digestion, skin, joint health – and overall mental and physical wellbeing – even when our diet may be less than optimal.

For staying active, I pack resistance bands and athletic shoes that are stylish enough for everyday activities. Walking is not only an excellent opportunity for movement; it’s also one of my favorite ways to explore and experience the local vibe.

Tech tools to help you navigate

To maximize your travel experience, try using offline Google Maps to navigate new places. Downloading maps ahead of time can help us get around without relying on data or Wi-Fi, allowing us to explore more freely.

Staying consistent: The bigger picture

Being mindful about travel wellness isn’t about restriction or perfection. It’s about balance and enjoying the journey, being able to immerse ourselves fully in the travel experience while also taking care of mind and body.

As you pack your bags this holiday season, think of your wellness routine as a gift to yourself—one that keeps giving well into the New Year. Wishing you all safe travels and happy holidays!

Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, is a registered dietitian with Ochsner Health and founder of Ochsner’s Eat Fit nonprofit initiative. For more wellness content, tune in to Molly’s podcast, FUELED Wellness + Nutrition, and follow @MollykimballRD and @EatFitOchsner on social media.