Packable healthy travel strategies that really work

Thanks to Bianca Osborne from VitalityGuideforWomen for contributing this post to GoGirlfriend. We're a community-based travel blog and we welcome submissions from everyone. Whether you're a budget-baller or a first class only kinda traveler, we'd love to hear from you. Visit our Writer's Guidelines and learn how you can share your travel advice, stories and adventures!

As a chef and aspiring nutritionist, healthy food is not only my passion but my livelihood as well. As an avid globetrotter I understand how difficult it can be to maintain a nutrition focused diet while in transit; however, after many travels I have amassed a how to guide to eating healthy while on vacation.

Healthy travel begins with accommodation

destination - apartment or hotel?In my experience, apartment rental not only saves money, but goes a long way in supporting healthy eating efforts. Although hotel living is cushy, with housekeeping and room service, it comes at a price to your wallet and your health. Going the hotel route means that you're at the mercy of your surroundings. If room service doesn't provide you with healthy options and there aren't health conscious restaurant offerings available, then you're hooped.

Enter apartment rentals. When you rent an apartment you take the control back, because you're able to shop and prepare food for yourself. Of course a splurge meal here or there is certainly in order - you're on vacation after all.

When you embark on your quest for a rental property, you might experience slight sticker shock. Please don't be discouraged. When you factor in the cost of hotel, restaurants, laundry and the like, property rental becomes a very desirable option.

When I plan on staying in a destination for longer than 2 days, I opt for the rental route. But if the trip is in and out, then I go ahead and splurge on a hotel.

I use VRBO.com or AirBnB.com to find a place to stay.

Healthy Eating Habits - To Market

healthy eating habitsWhen you rent a vacation property, you open up your dining options because you have a kitchen to cook in. I've found that almost every city in the world boasts a fresh market of some kind. By shopping the markets you get to meet the locals, sample delicacies and go off the beaten tourist path, which makes for a rich travel experience. Not to mention the ability to eat fresh produce at your leisure. But you need not have an apartment waiting for you in order to get in on the market action. Most hotels offer small, in room, refrigerators for you to store all your purchased goodies.

Since there are very few "find a farmer's market" resources online, the best way to locate a market in your destination of choice is to ask someone who lives there. Find a friendly local and ask away. You'll find most people are excited to share information about their city.

Healthier Food Choices - Eat In Season

healthy eating choicesWhen you shop the local markets you're able to see what's in season and reap all the nutritional benefits that eating fresh foods provides. Seasonal fruit and vegetables contain more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than their unseasonable counterparts and, in my humble opinion, tastes better too. When you shop the markets you're able to see, hear and, most importantly, taste your destination - while managing to maintain a healthy approach to eating.

So whether you opt to rent an apartment with full kitchen capabilities or go down the traditional hotel route, there are many ways to find healthy eating options. By finding local markets, purchasing fresh produce and making informed accommodation decisions when traveling, you are then able to eat healthy while on holiday. The next time you're planning a vacation, whether a month long sojourn or a weekend getaway, keep these tips in mind- your wallet and your waistline will thank you.

About Bianca Osborne

Bianca Osborne Bianca Osbourne is a professionally trained natural foods chef, aspiring nutritionist and globetrotter. Through her website, she offers her expertise through meal planning services online. Offline she provides private cooking lessons in Edmonton Alberta - her hometown. Catch up with Bianca on social media:

• Bianca on twitter: @VitalityGuide
• Bianca on Facebook: Vitality Guide For Women

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