This is part II of the travel series. Missed part I? Check it out: My Top Tip For Healthy Food Finds While Traveling.

When I get off a long flight, I want healthy, hydrating food.

It helps me recover from jet lag and from the energy-drainer that is being trapped in an airplane seat for several hours. Anyone else feel this way?!

My family and friends know the first thing I want to do after arriving in another city is…go to a grocery store. If I’m traveling for work, finding fresh food is often my first stop after checking into the hotel.

There’s no bigger lever I can pull than food to control the way I feel. I want to feel my best not only for myself, but for anyone I’m spending time with. You’ll get a decent version of me if I’m not eating as healthfully. I prefer to be better than decent. 😎🤸

Now on to the tips!

1) Whole Foods or other market

I talk about Whole Foods a lot! It’s been part of my life since my 20s (almost 30 years!) when I was living in Arlington, Virginia. In my mid-20s, I was living with a high school friend. One of our favorite meals was a giant salad from the Whole Foods’ salad bar.

My introduction to Whole Foods was earlier, as a college student on a trip to New Orleans for JazzFest in the early ‘90s.

If you can find a market with a salad bar when you’re traveling, great. If not, no big deal. You can pick up apples, oranges and/or bananas, easily eaten on the go without utensils. You can pick up pre-chopped vegetables. You can pick up healthy crackers and unsalted nuts. You can browse the other healthy, prepared foods options.

2) Google Search

You don’t have to be plant-based to check out a plant-based restaurant! Maybe you want to try something new or enjoy a “Meatless Monday.”

"best vegan restaurants [insert city]”

Your search is likely to return a result for Eater. I like Eater. A quick scroll of their “best vegan restaurants [insert city]” article should give you a couple of good options.

I also like Google Places reviews.

Vegan doesn’t mean healthy, but checking out these lists can be a good place to start.

3) Happy Cow

Another good place to collect options. I don’t use Happy Cow as much as I used to, but it is the OG before larger publications started writing about and featuring vegan restaurants.

Based on this search, I’d check out Native Foods. I think I’ve been there — years ago when I was traveling for work and staying at a hotel within walking distance of South Loop.

Fast forward to 2022, I was on another work trip to Chicago and stumbled upon Chicago Raw Food on a walk. It was close to the office. I was in heaven.

I’m glad to see both are still there!

Happy traveling!

Do you have tips for healthy eating on the go? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

Want more content like this?
Subscribe to have the blog post delivered straight to your inbox weekly.

cover image by @sunlingyan on Unsplash