This feature was sponsored by our friends at Align. All opinions are my own.
It officially feels like SUMMER I’ve been hearing from so many of you throughout the last few weeks asking me to chat about how to avoid the common digestion pitfalls while you’re traveling for summer vacation. I get it. For me, and I’m sure for many of you, the pitfalls can come from change in routine and belly blah-blah’s from eating something that didn’t agree with you. No need to fret, I’ve got you covered with tips and strategies for keeping your summer vaca a fabulous one.
Healthy Digestion on Summer Vacation
(AUDIO)
Click the PLAY button below to listen to my 5 Tips for healthy digestion on summer vacation.
5 Tips for Healthy Digestion on Summer Vacation
Add in Probiotics
You know I love my probiotics. I never leave home without them, especially when I’m traveling. I’ve talked a lot about Align probiotics in the last few months and that’s because they’re my go-to probiotic when I’m traveling. Why? Well, for starters they’re easy to transport from place to place because they’re in individual blister packs and don’t need to be refrigerated.
This is a total win-win situation here because so many probiotics are all jumbled together in a bottle and when I travel in the summer, the supplements get so hot that they stick together and it’s a nightmare! Moreover, many of these probiotics need to be refrigerated, which means they’re not travel-friendly.
I usually bring an entire box of Align Extra Strength with me in my suitcase because someone always is in need of beneficial bacteria. I’m always prepared! This new probiotic contains Bifidobacterium 35624™, a unique, pure-strain probiotic that’s gluten-free, easy to swallow and also comes in a chewable format, as well.
Align Extra Strength contains 5x more good bacteria than regular Align Probiotics, which is super helpful while you’re on vacation because you’ll be eating foods that your body isn’t used to, which can disrupt the natural balance of good bacteria in the microbiome. Many of us need this extra strength oomph of beneficial bacteria after being on airplanes and eating in and out of restaurants.
Make Your Own
I do not order food off the menu anywhere. It’s not something I do. Why? Because when I order off the menu, there’s always a hidden sauce or MSG or sneaky gluten ingredient that ends up in my meal and makes me feel awful for weeks. Yes, just a little bit of these ingredients is enough to knock me on my butt for weeks and that’s the last thing I want while I’m enjoying myself on summer vacation.
So, I tend to order exactly like this:
1 protein (ex: organic chicken) + 1 or 2 healthy fats (ex: avocado and chopped walnuts) + fiber (ex: loads of veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower or sweet potatoes).
That’s it. That’s what I do for every single meal and it works like a charm. I find a protein, fat(s) and fiber by checking out what ingredients are on the menu and I mix and match what sounds good to me and make it my own.
Then, I ask for freshly squeezed lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil and sea salt to sprinkle on my meal OR I ask for a side of salsa and hummus for dipping. Either way, I always need a dip or sauce or dressing with my meals. Without them, my meal is blah!
Call Ahead
When I’m planning a trip, I always call the hotel and speak with the front desk and concierge. I ask them where the nearest Whole Foods Market (or other healthy food stores) are located so that I can stock up on fresh fruits and veggies for my hotel room fridge. I map out my route and either head to the store directly from the airport or I’ll drop off my luggage and then head to the food store. This makes life so much easier for me, especially if I wake up early or I’m up late and I’m hungry because most hotels don’t have anything ‘healthy’ to serve you in the early morning and late evenings.
Get a Fridge
Every hotel room that I stay in MUST-have a fridge in it. That way I can stock fresh fruits and veggies in my room just in case I get hungry in between meals or if my blood sugar drops. I always call the hotel before I book my reservation to ensure they have empty mini-fridges available. Some hotels charge $25 for an empty fridge but most will happily provide this at no charge.
Pre-Pack
Most people ask me, “Are you allowed to bring food on your carry-on on an airplane?” The answer is YES! I wrote a feature on what I pack in my carry-on that you can check out for more tips.
I always pack a bunch of nuts and seeds that I can take with me just in case I get hungry in between meals and the hotel doesn’t have snacks. I love raw almonds, walnuts, pecans and sunflower seeds but you can choose whatever nuts and seeds your heart desires. I toss in a pinch of sea salt and ground cinnamon to a large bag and then combine all the nuts/seeds and shake it up! Then, I store it in my carry-on before I head to the airport.
Along with nuts, I pack a bunch of ripe avocados to snack on throughout the day. I grab a spoon from a restaurant (in the airport or the hotel) and eat the entire avocado with a spoon and a pinch of sea salt. Easy peasy and so satisfying.
I also pack sea salt because most restaurants use table salt, which is highly inflammatory and will totally derail your progress if you’re eating clean. Pack your own high-quality sea salt. I mention my favorite brand in my best-selling book, Eating Clean.
