Celeb nutritionist, Ayurveda expert, and Well+Good Council member Kimberly Snyder follows a plant-based diet. She also happens to travel quite a bit—and even in meat-centric places, she manages to eat incredibly well. You can do the same, thanks to Snyder's simple travel hacks.
When it comes time to traveling, figuring out what to eat that won't leave you feeling gross can be tricky—especially if you follow a plant-based diet. But it is possible. In fact, I’m living proof! I’ve traveled around the country as well as to over 70 countries worldwide—sometimes on pretty long trips—and I’ve managed to maintain my plant-based "beauty detox" philosophy. Not that things will be perfect, because they won’t. But they can be pretty good, especially with some planning and packing beforehand.
So, how do you eat plant-based when traveling? Read on for some must-know tips.
Pack smart
A little planning is huge in terms of staying on track diet-wise. On the road, you often don’t have the same variety of foods, so you need snacks that supply you with vital nutrition. I always travel with pretty much everything I need for a simplified power protein smoothie: my smoothie shaker bottle, individual packets of sprouted vegan protein powder, chia seeds, bee pollen, and maca. It will be thinner without the blended banana or açai, but that's okay! You’ll still get over 20 grams of plant-based protein, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, minerals, and more.
I also pack gluten-free wraps as well. They are flat, light, and you can stuff all kinds of things in them in a bind—especially hummus, avocados, olives, sprouts, and local greens. They have saved me zillions of times. In cities where I know I'll only find a weak salad and sparse veggie sides at restaurants, I'll eat a hummus and avocado wrap before I head out to dinner.
I also take easy-to-pack dried snacks like almonds, walnuts, and goji berries. They are amazing sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and help super-charge your immunity at the same time—which is especially important when you're traveling. They are great for airports, long flights and train rides, and in tough sourcing moments.
I shamelessly take nutritional yeast with me to restaurants.
I shamelessly take nutritional yeast with me to restaurants as well. When salads are limp, kinda lame, and not satisfying, I sprinkle it on along with some lemon. That perks it up, flavor-wise, with a cheesy non-dairy taste, along with a fantastic boost of amino acids to build protein and B vitamins for energy and hair health.
Most of us have some degree of a sweet tooth, so I always pack dark chocolate. I’ll want treats when I’m traveling, and it’s great to have the option of something pretty pure, clean, and dairy-free that nips your sweet craving in the bud.
If you’re going away for extended period of time, you can go a bit more hardcore as I do and pack your blender with you along with the electrical charge converters. That way, you can make your fave smoothie in any country in the world.
Leverage local produce
Be sure to call your hotel or other lodging ahead of time to ask whether you’ll have a mini fridge or access to a refrigerator. This is so helpful. You can visit local markets and pick up produce, depending on where you are. Some particularly great travel items include avocados, local greens and herbs, spreads and dips like hummus and baba ganoush, and so on.
Do your research
You aren't relegated to eat at vegan restaurants only. Some restaurants have amazing veggies and produce and are quite happy to accommodate. I was thrilled when I was recently traveling to New York and Le Bernardin made a whole vegan tasting menu for me.
Be open-minded and ask around at local traditional restaurants, but do be wary of asking about things like shrimp paste, fish sauce, and animal stock in broth. Some hosts may think "vegetarian" just means no big chunks of meat, and they may not realize that chicken stock doesn't fly, either.
Bring your supplements
Our digestion and gut health—the root of our health and beauty—is often thrown off to some degree while traveling. There are a few supplements I consider essential to feel your very best, especially during travel. SBO Probiotics are the natural mix of bacterium found in soil, which is how our ancestors used to get their probiotics. These bacteria are hearty and can survive stomach acid to be resident-forming in our guts. Because they are hearty, they don’t need to be refrigerated.
Digestive enzymes are also important for helping you digest your food more easily, which may be heavier than usual while traveling, and Detoxy+ is key to make sure you are eliminating well and not getting bloated and backed up. It’s an oxygen-based cleanser that is non habit-forming and not an irritating laxative.
Now you’re ready to jet off to your destination. You'll be armed with plenty of tools to keep you on your amazing, energy-, health-, and beauty-boosting plant-based tract—which is also the best diet for the planet. Safe travels, and remember: If I can adhere to the beauty detox diet while globetrotting to exotic locales, you can, too.
Kimberly Snyder, CN, is a member of the Well+Good Council and the New York Times best‐selling author of The Beauty Detox Solution, The Beauty Detox Foods and The Beauty Detox Power, and co-author of Radical Beauty, with Deepak Chopra. Her popular beauty blog, KimberlySnyder.com, features Ayurveda-inspired recipes and products—and she's also the creator of Glow Bio, an organic juice, smoothie, and cleanse company.
What should Kimberly write about next? Send your questions and suggestions to experts@www.wellandgood.com.
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