My favorite travel hacks for staying healthy while on vacation

To be honest, there have been times before that I didn’t want to travel because I couldn’t control my environment like I can at home.

I’ve gone on vacations and had my skin break out horribly from low-quality food, come down with the worst case of flu of my life, fell off the wagon with my health goals, etc…

But I’ve learned that the experiences, the education, the social connections, the relaxation (and often times the fresh air and sunlight!) are well worth it. Being able to travel is a huge blessing to be thankful for.

The Bible tells us not to be anxious, but this does not mean forfeiting control and intentionality when we can exercise it! It means not worrying about things we cannot control or have chosen to accept.

Even on airplanes and at hotels, environments where we have little control over things we might normally like to, there is a lot we can do!

So I start my vacations with some intentional steps. These don’t cause me anxiety or too much effort. Some of these things even save a lot of money!

Here are some of my favorites: 1. Ask Starbucks to fill up your water bottle at the airport. Even their airport stores use triple-filtered RO water

Often I buy something at the same time (a coffee for my husband, preferably in his own metal travel mug rather than a paper [plastic] cup, or a milk for my toddler) but I've never been refused when I just ask for a water fill-up without paying for something. It seems like a pretty normal request for them.

2. Also you can bring any liquids in any amount through TSA as long as they’re frozen

The TSA officers may have to inspect your bag because they cannot tell from their scanner what's in bottles, but when I brought this frozen milk and several other frozen items through security, I was told "looks like you know how to travel" and allowed to take them all with me.

3. Consider booking seats in the last row of the plane so you don’t have a TV screen on the back of your headrest

I've never brought my EMF meter on a plane to test things, but from other things I've tested I can only imagine that the close proximity of the electronics is delivering a decent dose of EMF radiation to your brain. Sitting near the back may also limit EMFs generated by the engines and cockpit avionics.

(This is a good magazine article summarizing risks of EMFs. Despite what big tech companies would like you to believe there is substantial scientific as well as anecdotal evidence of their risks.)

4. Consider EMF blocking blankets/hats for flights

I wrap this around myself on flights right now because I am pregnant. I might not bother with it otherwise, but it was $40 on Amazon and I was pleasantly surprised when I tested it with my EMF meter and found that it works.

5. Bring a travel water filter like a Berkey Go with you

This little filter is so small it's easy to take on trips in my carry-on bag. Then I can filter water in my hotel room and not have to rely on tap water or water that comes in plastic bottles. It's not large enough to attach a Berkey fluoride filter, so I haven't decided yet what I would do if I was travelling somewhere with fluoridated water.

6. Search for restaurants on the Seed Oil Scout app

(No affiliation.) I love this app for searching for healthy restaurant options wherever I go. It gives more information than just cooking oils. It's how I find places like this fantastic restuarant that served loaded fries all made with clean, scratch ingredients.

7. Buy food at groceries stores and farmers markets

Nothing wrong with a meal of meat, cheese, yogurt, or milk and fruit from a grocery store. You can still find lots of options that allow you to experience the local culture.

8. Be intentional about what you can control and then don’t be anxious about what you can’t (Phil 4:6-7)

This hole in the rocks with the waves crashing through it was just casually sitting among the rocks at the most Southern point of the US, no signs or anything, I almost missed it. Along the coastline several steps away sea turtles were swimming in the water below and whales were spouting in the distance.

Travel is worth it. But vacation does not have to be a time to throw everything to the wind and suffer the potential consequences. When it comes to the things I cannot control or have decided to accept, I no longer worry about them and choose to enjoy the blessing of the trip God has given me.