Travel is all about flexibility and change. When you travel, either for long amounts of time or short, you go through a transition of sorts and are bombarding with new variables. To overcome the challenges thrown your way, travelers have to find a sense of stability to keep them balanced amongst the chaos. This is challenging. However, while at times it may feel impossible to create a stable environment what I can do is carry an inner stability and balance within me.
In recovery, we are taught to develop, nourish and cultivate an inner stability that can be carried with you no matter where you go. Easier said than done I know. But there are certain tricks one can do to help make creating balance while traveling a little more attainable.
One of those tricks is around food. As someone who is recovered from an eating disorder I have to prioritize food, especially when I am traveling. As a traveler I never know exactly when I will be able to eat, where or what. Sometimes I am stuck on a 16 hour bus ride or a 19 hour flight and don’t have access to food that I want to eat. It can be very anxiety provoking trying to figure out what to eat in these circumstances. Then, to top it off, the more time goes by without me eating, the hungrier I get and the harder it becomes to make a decision. It’s a vicious cycle.
To overcome this vicious cycle I always carry snacks. No matter where I go I always carry some sort of snack that I can eat while I try to figure out where I will be able to have a full meal. The snack is always a lifesaver, even if it seems small.
But what do you bring? Well, in some cases it depends on where you are traveling to. If you are going somewhere hot don’t bring something covered in chocolate. It will melt and make a mess. If you are going somewhere super cold maybe plan on bringing things that you can eat while wearing gloves.
If you are curious about what to bring to Southeast asia here is a short and sweet list of the snacks I am bringing and why they are great.
10 Snacks I Am Carrying With Me On My Next Adventure:
- Almond Butter/ Peanut Butter Packets – These are small, easy to carry and a great source of healthy fats and protein. You can eat them plain, with a piece of fruit on on some crackers.
- Hydration Tablets– This is less of a snack and more of a health precaution. I am bringing these because it can get so hot and I don’t drink enough water. The tablets add some more hydration to the water I already drink and set my body up for success.
- Salty Crackers– This snack is great if you have a tendency to get motion sick. Each country I guarantee will have some sort of salty cracker that you can buy for cheap and carry with you on long trips.
- Power Bars – Figure out which power bar is your favorite and bring more than you think you will need. Power bars are great on the go snacks and fit just about anywhere. My favorite are Clif Bars and Luna Bars but feel free to find the best ones for you.
- Jerky – This one is also great if you eat meat. I believe for vegetarians they make soy jerky and different kinds but not sure. Regardless, in a pinch some Turkey jerky from Trader Joe’s is my favorite.
- Pistachios – I am not much of a nut person but I do love pistachios. Nuts are a great travel snack because they hold up in most weather conditions and they are easy to transport.
- Something Sweet – On every adventure you have to bring something sweet. I personally LOVE candy so I always make sure to bring some along. I love strawberry licorice, sound gummies and Hi-Chews.
- Coffee Packets – If you are a coffee drinker then I like to bring with me mocha starbucks drink packets. They are a nice treat after having nescafe for days. You can buy them in packs of 6 at Target for roughly $6 or purchase them at your nearby Starbucks.
- Chamomile Tea – regardless of if you drink coffee or not I think it is always a good idea to bring chamomile tea packets with you on trips. The chamomile will help you calm down if or when you get anxious and it can also help with sleep on a long flight.
- Fruit Snacks – This one is a luxury. They are a nice break from a power bar but they aren’t as filling. Still I like to bring some fruit bars with me whenever I travel just incase I need a snack.
Regardless, of what you bring make sure you bring snacks that will survive in all sorts of weather. For example: gum with melt in hot and humid temperatures and so will chocolate. Avoid things that will be messy and get all over your things. Lastly, make sure you bring things that you you enjoy and will actually eat. I have made the mistake of getting too many snacks that I thought I would eat and then didn’t. It was a waste of money and of space.
