Summer Travel Made Easy For Planning the Perfect Vacation

Maggie Williams Author

Start planning your next trip now. Whether you're traveling by car, train, or plane, these simple tips will make your trip a lot smoother.

Taking a vacation is a lot of fun and builds great memories, but it can also break the bank. To prevent the travel blues, plan ahead and save yourself time and money. 

Even when you try to eat healthy at home, it’s challenging to find good, nutritious choices on the road or in airports. Here are a few tips.

Pack treats in individual non-toxic snack bags in a cooler. If you have children, let them make their own bags and label them with their name. 

Keep fruits and vegetables in storage containers that keep them fresh, and they'll last longer. Instead of plastic water bottles that are not safe and can easily get overheated, choose to put filtered water in a insulated stainless steel jug that stays cold for 24-48 hours.

Here are some healthy options:

Homemade granola (nuts, raisins, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)

Homemade cookies, muffins, cracker, or cupcakes

Chopped veggies (celery, carrot, sweet red peppers)

Chopped fruit (grapes, melon, apples, peaches, oranges, cherries, bananas)

Unsweetened applesauce cups

Organic popcorn with sea salt (not microwave popcorn)

Hard-boiled eggs

Organic plain Greek yogurt and top with fresh fruit or granola

Small jar of peanut or cashew butter or individual pouches

Pickles

Filtered water

If you're traveling by car, enjoy a delicious, healthy meal at a Rest Area. If you're flying, avoid the high-priced options and feast on your food at your gate. Choose from:

Sub sandwich or chicken salad on a croissant

Sliced chicken or turkey

Meatballs

Potato salad

Fruit salad

Pasta salad

Chopped broccoli, cauliflower, and celery with hummus or dip

Mixed green salad

If you stop at a rest area, play a game of tag or frisbee to get some exercise. Just stopping for 15 -20 minutes every few hours can put everyone in a better mood and reenergize you until the next Rest Area.

If you're flying, rather than waiting for your flight scrolling on your phone, take laps and walk through the airport since you'll be sitting for some time on the plane. 

When I fly, I always take an empty stainless or glass water bottle and fill it up once I've gone through the TSA checkpoint. All of the airports have filtered water stations throughout the terminal.


Traveling can be very expensive with the high price of gas, plane tickets, hotel rooms, activities, parking, etc. The cost of eating out for a family of four can easily exceed $50-$60, and that's at a fast food restaurant for lunch.

Another reason to pack your own food is that traveling can be hard on your digestion, and it’s easy to end up with constipation from sitting for long periods or diarrhea from eating food you're not used to.

Make sure to stay hydrated, eat lots of fresh fruit, and stay active. Prunes can also be helpful and keep you regular. Practice deep breathing which helps your body relax, so you can digest your food properly.

Avoid eating lots of junk food on vacation. It's easy to resort to wanting quick, cheap meals that you can eat on the run, but they will cost you later. Maybe, eat a bigger breakfast and have your large meal in the middle of the day with something light in the evening.

Choose a hotel room with a refrigerator to keep your perishable food and water cold. Most serve breakfast at no additional charge. I've stayed at some that even offer gluten-free or vegan options. You just have to call ahead to check.

Another option is to buy groceries and pack a lunch to take with you as you go sightseeing, and then eat dinner at a restaurant. That will be better for your budget and your health.

Vacations should be a wonderful time to explore new places, enjoy time with family and friends, get away from the normal routines of your daily life, and make amazing memories we'll never forget. 

What’s your favorite travel tip?

Plan early, so don't forget anything that keeps you from having the perfect vacation. 

Coach Maggie

Legacy Health Coaching and Consulting

I'm a Certified Health & Lifestyle Coach, and I help women of faith in midlife (or getting close) establish consistent healthy habits, so they can enjoy an energetic, abundant life filled with purpose that honors God.

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."

3 John 2

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