As I was packing my bags for my summer vacation, I realized there are essentials I ALWAYS bring that keep me healthy and joyous so I MUST share them with you. I describe them all in the video below.
For those of you who rather read my list of items that keep me healthy while travelling, here they are:
1. Nut butta. I really dislike the processed, sugar laden peanut butter that pretty much ALL hotel restaurants offer at breakfast. Instead, I bring my own travel size packet of raw Artisana nut butters including: pecan, walnut and almond. They are about two bucks at the health food store and you get about 2 servings out of one package.
2. Organic Greens+. Travelling can promote tissue acidity which is a magnet for ill-health and skin issues such as acne and eczema. So to combat that, I take a scoop of my greens powder every morning on an empty belly. And boy oh boy, does it give you happy BM’s too!
3. Chimes Ginger Chews. No one likes popping eardrums on a plane. So rather than chewing on some chemical-laden candy or aspartame-infused gum, I bring my ginger chews with me. The ginger flavour is pretty potent, but soooo good!
4. “SISU to go” Ester-C Energy boost packet. Ever feel like you’ve gained 5lbs while flying? Me too. Thanks to dehydration and inflammation. So to avoid both, I drink tons of water and I infuse my water with this magical potion — vitamin C with various alkaline minerals. Plus it keeps my immune system strong.
5. Organic White Tea. Chock-full of antioxidant goodness to keep me beautified and an excellent cancer prevention habit! So every morning before or after breakfast, I will drink my tea (and on the plane too).
6. EcoTools Face Mask. I like my sleep. This super soft sustainable face mask blocks out the light so I can take a nap on the plane or better yet, while on vacation I’m ALL about the siesta, so I will use this for a mid-afternoon catnap too 
7. Hugo Naturals All Over Lotion. I love this travel size moisturizer for everything from my hands and body. Plus, it’s green and clean!
8. Green Beaver Lip Gloss. This splendicious gloss will keep your lips dewy, glowy and moisturized without chemicals. Did you most most lip glosses that claim to moisturize contain ingredients that do the exact opposite? Grrrr I say! Just buy Green Beaver.
9. Green Beaver Face Cream with SPF 15. I like the sun, no wait… I LOVE the sun, but I also realize that I don’t want to look 80 when I’m nearly 35. So to prevent premature wrinkling and of course skin cancer, I slather this on my face.
10. Stone Crop Mist by Eminence. This line of products is my faves. This particular product helps to balance your skin’s pH. Plus, it just feels so gosh darn good when you give your gorgeous face a little spritz!
Oh and I almost forgot… I ALWAYS bring dark organic chocolate with me.
So I’m curious to know, what are YOUR essentials to stay healthy and beautiful while traveling? Do share below!
Be joyous,
Joy
Fall Eat Well Feel Well 6-wk nutrition + yoga class
Joy McCarthy, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach of Joyous Health, loves to inspire others to eat well, live well and be happy.
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This is an especially great post since I’m traveling next week – thank you!
P.S. – have fun on your trip, Joy!
Thanks Liz! I hope those tips are useful!
Enjoy your trip as well!!
Grounding can help normalize your sleep cycles and prevent jet lag. If you can walk barefoot on the beach or on concrete, or dewy grass you will be more energized. I need to arm myself with healthy preparations to avoid altitude sickness if I go to Peru !
Such GREAT advice Melissa. Thanks for sharing!
great tips! when i was travelling this past may i also brought along chia goodness and homemade quinoa granola. perfect for morning breakfasts in the hotel! i also like bringing along lara bars, “snack size” portions of hemp seeds and raw nuts/seeds
Thanks for mentioning that Danielle because I do the exact same — always bring my chia goodness when I travel. Especially to keep things moving
These travel tips will also benefit me….literally. Can’t wait to mist my face when we land.
Awesome travel tips! What do you use for full body sunblock? I have seen the clean beaver brand and while I would buy the daily facial sunscreen, I feel like the spf 30 tube could be used up in a day! I would go broke! Any other less expensive brands you recommend? (that may not be as clean but still better than most)
I suggest you check ewg.org sunscreen guide because you will find many different brands there!
Eminence also makes sunscreen! Tropical Vanilla – comes in two variations (face and body). I agree Eminence products are awesome
I think Alba and Heiko are two other decent sunscreens, I think, although not as familiar with those.
Thanks for the tips, Joy, just in time for long weekend travel…so enjoyed watching your cat in the background!
You most welcome Alex. I’m definitely going to look into those Eminence products!
This is a great post- and it will be helpful to me since I am going away on vacation in a few weeks.
I always pack Larabars, raw almond, almond butter packets, Stevia packets, and some ground flaxseed when I travel.
Hello Joy!
Where do you buy your Eminence products?
Great article! I’ll be sure to keep some of your tips in mind next time I travel. Two things I must have on my vaca are Dr. Hauschka lip care stick and a big sun hat
You can get them at Rayne Spa on the Danforth!
great tips as always! i’ve been drinking white tea for the last 6mos or so & notice so many positive changes. i love it! enjoy your vacay!
Great tips, especially the ginger chews and greens+. I always miss my juicer when I travel as well.
Great tips Joy! I will definitely be bringing some Greens on my vacay this summer, never thought of that. My travel essential is to always pack probiotics for whole family, especially when we’re leaving the country for somewhere exotic. Have a wonderful holiday!
Great idea to bring probiotics on the road Jackie!!
Kinga, there aren’t too many places in Toronto to buy Eminence products, but we sell them at Chi Spa (Yonge & St. Clair) and also do Eminence facials. I know there are probably a couple other places though
Thanks for the info Alex!
Love this post! Thanks for all the tips!
Great video..just in time for travelling… Thank you for sharing.
What do you take for PREVENTION of traveller’s diarrhea?
Great video..Thanks for sharing..
What do you take for prevention of travellers diarrhea?
Probiotics are a girls best friend
Joy,
Excellent post! My wife and I travel fairly regularly to places far and wide. We find Melatonin to help regulate our sleep without making us groggy. I managed to sleep for close to 8 hours on a flight from LAX to Brisbane recently – the most I’ve ever slept on a plane.
Questions:
1) I followed your link for the Organic Greens+ product but did not see anything by that name. When searching on that product name I found this: http://greensplus.com/index.php/cPath/84_150 Is this the product you like?
2) We regularly get little bumps on our hands and arms while abroad. We saw a pharmacist in New Zealand who gave us a topical steroid, which helped. I’d prefer not to use such a product in the future if possible. Any recommendations on products or dietary changes?
Hi Brian — great idea to bring along Melatonin to help with sleep. Here’s the direct link to those greens: http://www.genuinehealth.com/greens-o.html?___store=default&___from_store
I would suggest watching your dairy and gluten consumption. Also, what products are you using on your skin? Do they change when you travel?
Do you never eat food from the airline? Only what you bring yourself?
Omg! I wish I watched this 2 weeks ago before my vacay! I never knew how AWFUL airplane food is! (my first time traveling over 3hrs in the air in years) I promised myself i am going to pack my own yummy snacks next time. I did however bring my digestive enzees and my probiotics
I need a new sleeping mask, I wonder if all sleeping masks cause eyelash deformities like mine do :s love the tips Joy!
Glad you brought your enzymes and probiotics!!
Actually, funny you ask… no it didn’t mess up my eyelashes because it wasn’t really tight. It has a nice velcro strap. I love it!!
Thanks for these great tips Joy – it really helps keep one happy to keep the body feeling great! Now if only I can find a way to pack my juicer and basket of fresh veggies..
Great & helpful tips, Joy! Question: I live in Austin, TX & haven’t heard of some of these products, but am really interested. Are most of these available online or at a chain store like Wholefoods? Could you provide a list of where to find them? Thank you!!
Also, I love doing legs up the wall pose as soon as I arrive somewhere. It’s ESPECIALLY good after being in the air on a flight. It helps increase circulation, bring down the CNS & blood pressure, and restore some beauty back into the face with fresh blood flow!
Oh, and breath of joy
is always a great pranayama technique to get the lungs working at capacity if traveling has disrupted your breathing patterns as it so often does! There are YouTube videos on how to do it if you are unfamiliar!
Love & Light,
Ryan
Thanks for your comment and enthusiasm Ryan!
As for where to get everything, I just put links to the products themselves in the post because every city is different. But yes, Whole Foods is your best bet for most of them. However, many large grocery store chains have a health food/natural supplement section. I personally love to shop at little independent health food stores, but in Toronto we have lots of options. Hope that helps and you find everything you need!
Love pranayama
Joy
Nothing feels better than a hydrating spritz at oxygen-deprived airports and on airplanes!
Jane Iredale’s Pommist Hydration spray is also amazing! Great size for travel/to keep in your purse. The scent is heavenly; pomegranate and white tea (but smells very similar to a light rose water) – I highly recommend it!
great video! i’m traveling next week and am going to stock up on a few of those items. also i love the kitty cameo – so cute!
Hi Joy! Thanks so much for these tips. I will be so prepared for our long flight to Asia now. I’ve been looking for the Green Beaver lip gloss everywhere I go…do you know who carries them in Toronto??
Just stocked up on Lara bars, SISU to go packets and individual nut butters. Watch out, Boston!
Also, Megan, Noah’s carries Green Beaver stuff – not sure if they have the lip gloss, but it might be worth calling them up. I’d check out Essence of Life in Kensington Market, too!
Thanks Joy! Going overseas as well next week, great tips to endure the long flight. The puffy feeling after flying is the worst!
Can you tell me if items such as Larabars, green tea in a bag, nuts, dates are allowed on a plane? I’m going to Portland in 2 days and want to be sure. Green protein powder is allowed in suitcase?
Hi Sue! I’m not sure, it all depends on the airline and where you are travelling to and from.