A Muslima's Guide to Staying Healthy While Traveling

While traveling for business or pleasure, it can be difficult to maintain your fitness and dietary regimen. I'm currently traveling and staying in a hotel, and I've picked up a few tips to share with you that have improved my routine!

1. Don't Overdo the Hotel Breakfast

My hotel is one of those with a continental breakfast--sausage, eggs, waffles, sugary cereals, sugary yogurt. These main offerings don't really work for me, because I eat a whole foods, mostly plant-based diet. On top of that, breakfast at my hotel is offered from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, which is well before I usually eat my first meal of the day. I always drink coffee in the morning, which is available hot in the lobby 24/7. Coffee is a great source of antioxidants, so it's great to start your day with a cup. For my breakfast, I grab a bowl of walnuts, almonds, and dried fruit from the oatmeal bar, take it up to my room, and eat it a few hours after I've had my coffee. Nuts are full of healthy fats, so they make a great breakfast!

2. Visit the Grocery Store

Getting fruits, vegetables, and meals from the grocery store is a great way to avoid the temptation of eating out so much while traveling. Restaurant food is full of sodium, and I've found that I don't feel my best if I eat out too much because I can't control exactly what I'm ingesting.

3. Make Use of the Hotel Gym

Hotel gyms are empty most of the time, which is really nice! It's good to go get a run in on the treadmill or elliptical first thing in the morning. Exercising in the morning is the best ways to adapt to a new time zone too. It cuts the circadian adjustment period significantly, meaning you will wake up with more energy and your digestion will be better regulated.

 I hope you've enjoyed this brief guide to staying healthy while traveling! Check my Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok for more, @lizzyhelenabrown on all platforms.