HEALTHY EATING ON A BUDGET WHILE TRAVELING
Author: Noah Elstermeier
Traveling doesn’t have to derail your healthy eating habits—or your budget. With a little planning, you can enjoy nutritious meals and snacks on the go without overspending. Here are some practical tips and ideas to help you stay on track while keeping costs low and tasting delicious
Pack Smart Snacks on a Budget
Preparing ahead of time is extremely important to make sure you can keep prices low and not starve. The alternative being buying expensive airport food. Instead stock up on nutrient dense snacks and dry foods. Items like bulk nuts, dried fruit, homemade protein bars, and whole-grain crackers are cost-effective and travel-friendly. These are all filling foods which you can take almost anywhere with you and provide you with a nutritious balance.
Not everyone will be flying so here are some tips for road trips, a great hack is bringing a cooler which can help cut costs and maintain healthy eating on the road. Pack budget-friendly proteins like hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, and fresh veggies like carrots and celery, this will help provide different nutrients important to the body that you can’t usually travel with. Buying these in larger quantities at a grocery store instead of convenience stores will save money. Because you’re bringing a cooler you have the unique ability to store these perishable foods. I actually use a cooler because I go on cross-country road trips because not only is it convenient for packing healthy foods, I can also keep my drinks cold and don’t need to spend money at gas stations for water when I have cold waters at my fingertips.
Healthy and Affordable Snack Ideas for all day
Fresh Fruit and Peanut Butter: Apples or bananas paired with single-serving peanut butter packets are easy, affordable, and satisfying. The American Heart Association (AHA) highlights that pairing fruit with a healthy fat source helps stabilize blood sugar levels. It’s also extremely yummy and a snack everyone you travel with will like.
DIY Trail Mix: Instead of purchasing expensive pre-made versions, create your own mix with bulk nuts, seeds, and dried fruit for a balanced, cost-effective snack. We have a few fun recipes which you can use to make new trail mixes, you can even mix and match to find the one that tastes the best to you.
Hummus and Veggies: Buying a tub of hummus and pre-cutting your own veggies like bell peppers and snap peas is much cheaper than pre-packaged snack trays. This is a great option of vegetarians who want to get their protein in while on the road
Budget-Friendly Dining Out Tips
Choose Affordable, Healthy Options: If you are staying somewhere for a long time think about looking at the local markets for fresh foods which won’t break the bank and are still healthy. This will help save your bank from expensive restaurants and will be much healthier for you than restaurants. I did exactly this when I went to Belize during the summer. Everything was extremely expensive, especially the food. We bought from the local market and bought from the store some essentials like bread, and we made sandwiches for the whole trip. They were just as good as a restaurant for a fraction of the price.
Mindful Indulgence Without Overspending: This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go to restaurants. If you want to enjoy a meal out, consider splitting dishes with a travel companion, choosing appetizers instead of full entrees, or opting for local street food known for its fresh, budget-friendly options. A great example is when I went to a restaurant with some friends and instead of getting two personal pizza’s we decided to split a medium pizza because we both wanted the same thing. This helped save us money and we both left full.
Hydration and Balance on a Budget
Stay Hydrated for Free: Carry a reusable water bottle and fill it up at airports, hotels, and restaurants with free water stations. In most places in America free water is a common occurrence so this will save you lots of money. Also Avoid buying bottled drinks, which can quickly add up in cost. Although this may not always be possible in foreign countries. Water is extremely important though; dehydration is an extreme condition which can be life threatening
By planning ahead and making smart choices, you can enjoy your travels while maintaining a healthy diet without breaking the bank. Happy travels!
