Top 10 Tips To Stick To an Organic Lifestyle on Vacation

Summer break is here! That means going on vacation and having lots of fun in the sun. When traveling, it can be challenging to stay on track with any type of lifestyle or diet. Going on vacation can knock your normal eating routine out of whack but just know it doesn’t have to. Vacation does not mean that your diet has to go completely out the window. There are many ways to stay on track. Most of my peers ask me how I am able to eat when I go on vacation since they know I eat organic at home. But, I am here to tell you that it is possible to stick to your organic lifestyle on vacation. Just follow these top 10 tips to stick to an organic lifestyle on vacation.

1. Bring organic snacks
   • It’s always a good idea to bring organic snacks with you when you are traveling. That way, you reach for something organic and healthy when you are on a tour, airplane, or road trip.

     

2. Find organic restaurants/juice bars
   • With tools like Google, Yelp and Tripadvisor it is easy to find restaurants and juice bars that serve organic food and organic smoothies/juices in the specific area in which you will be visiting. My Google search of choice is  “organic restaurants in (city where you are traveling to).”
3. Write a plan/list of the restaurants you found
   • Always have a plan or write a list of the restaurants and places you have found so you have a general idea of where you will be eating on your trip. There is nothing worse than vacationing in a place and taking 30 minutes of your precious time to figure out where to eat.
4. Look at the restaurants website for nutrition facts/ingredient list beforehand
   • Go to the restaurants website and check to see if they list their nutrition facts and ingredients so you can see if they serve wholesome food. The website will usually state whether they use organic, local, non-gmo ingredients in their cooking.
5. Stop at a local organic grocery store or Whole Foods Markets
   • There are a lot of Whole Foods Markets around the country and even some in Canada and London. Along with that, there are many local organic and natural grocery stores . On the first day at my vacation destination, I stop at an organic grocery store to buy some extra essentials that I couldn’t bring on the plane with me. I also buy healthy and delicious organic snacks and fruits so I can have them on hand during my trip. Also, If you are staying at someone’s house for the duration of your vacation opt to buy organic food to keep in the house. You can even offer to cook a few times.
6. Find a hotel that has a kitchen or at least a refrigerator
   • Many hotels now offer small or even full sized kitchens. That is a great way to not only stay healthy on vacation but also to save money. Going out to eat for every meal can become very costly for a family of 4 or more. There are hotels called condo hotels or extended stay hotels, which are like small apartments that come equipped with full sized kitchens. If you can’t find a hotel with a kitchen at least opt for one that has a refrigerator.
7. If going on an airplane prepare a small meal
   • Let’s face it, airport food is anything but healthy and extremely expensive for crap food. The best way is to prepare something at home and eat it on the plane. I know it is limited considering you can’t bring liquids but a healthy sandwich, salad or wrap are some good options.

     

8. If you are going on a cruise stick to just eating healthy whole foods 
   • Most of the vacations I take with my family are on cruises and it is a lot more challenging when it comes to finding organic food. Some cruise lines like Celebrity Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean Cruise Line have organic food here and there. Some of their cruise ships will have a healthier restaurant and or healthier food items that is usually located in their adult solarium. Because it is harder to stay on an organic lifestyle on a cruise, I usually become somewhat of a vegetarian and stick to eating a lot of fruits and vegetables. Also, I refer to the dirty dozen list and know which fruits and vegetables have the least amount of pesticides and I stick to those. The best way to stay on track on a cruise is to just eat healthy with fruits, vegetables, lean meats and complex carbs.

     

9. When traveling outside of the United States do some simple research
   • Usually before I travel to other countries, I follow some of the steps I gave you and I use Google and Yelp to search for organic restaurants and organic grocery stores. When you go to other countries you will not find the known USDA Organic seal. Here is a picture of all the different organic symbols used around the world.

     

10. Travel to places where it is easy to find organics
    • A great idea would be to travel to places where organics are more prevalent. It is so much easier to stick to an organic lifestyle while on vacation in cities where most of the inhabitants are already living that lifestyle. You will be able to find more restaurants, juice bars, bakeries, grocery stores and other entities in the organic industry that coincide with an organic lifestyle. Here is a list of the most popular places where organics are more predominant in the United States.
      1. Los Angeles, California
      2. Seattle, Washington
      3. Portland, Oregon
      4. San Francisco, California
      5. New York City, New York
      6. Austin, Texas
      7. Boston, Massachusetts
      8. Minneapolis, Minnesota
      9. Washington, D.C.
      10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With these 10 tips, I hope it makes it easier for you to stick to an organic lifestyle on vacation as much as you can. Just remember, if you happen to indulge in a cupcake or a pizza that isn’t organic DO NOT beat yourself up. It is perfectly okay for you to enjoy yourself and try the local food and restaurants when you are on vacation. Have a wonderful Summer and enjoy your travels!

Love,

Sara, “S.O.Eats”