Trying to enjoy your vacation with gut issues or even just with anxiety can make the trip so stressful, which only makes things worse! This blog post will tell you some of the amazing tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years. Doing and preparing just a little bit, help me actually relax and enjoy the trip!

Going on any vacation or trip has always been hard for me, as someone who has struggled so long with IBS and anxiety. I’ve missed out on family road trips and events too many times from having so much anxiety I couldn’t go, or not even wanting to deal with the anxiety, so I wouldn’t even want to try. 

Having Support and Strength

Until this past year, when my gut finally started healing, was the first time I felt strong enough to deal with my anxiety head-on and go on the trip. I was ready to try, I trusted my mind and body to support me. 

The beginning of 2021 was the first time I went out of town in years. The night before, I had the biggest panic attack I’d had in so long and was so close to giving up and not going. 

My sister helped me realize how far I had come and how much stronger I was than when I used to feel those panic attacks. Having support was 100% necessary because when you’re in panic mode, you aren’t thinking rationally. You need to have reassurance and remind yourself that you’re strong, and whatever happens, you can deal with it. Reminding myself that I am the observer of my thoughts helped so much.

Even though I knew was strong enough and was just feeling scared and excited, my body interpreted those feelings as terror and danger. My stomach started cramping up my heart started racing, but I still knew it was my body reacting and that I would get through it.

If I told my past self that I would be going to two out-of-town weddings and a week-long vacation this year I literally would’ve laughed and never believed you. It’s so crazy how healing your body and mind can change your life so much. 

The second trip was definitely so much easier, not to say there was no anxiety or nerves, but I started learning how to channel them into excitement and love and that helped tremendously!

Preparing for Snacks and Meals!

Here are a few things I did to prepare for the trip and make sure my body would be taken care of while in travel mode! 

Even if it’s a fun vacation, for most people being in a different environment already puts our bodies in a more stressed state. Always make sure to bring lots of snacks that you won’t get nervous about eating (safe foods). On a longer trip, try to bring some things with you, so you won’t have to buy as much new stuff when you get there.

Normally I try to cook a few meals (if I have access to a kitchen) and eat whatever plant-based vegan options I can find at local restaurants, but I loveee to have snacks to eat at night too!

Snack Ideas! 

For me, the snacks I like to bring are:

  • clementines, bananas, apples (in my carry-on, to eat in the car, or on the plane!) *make sure you don’t bring produce if you’re flying internationally, dry goods only!
  • dates
  • dried fruits (pineapple, apples, strawberries, peaches)
  • trail mix — I make one with sunflower seeds, dark chocolate, goji berries and raisins!
  • cocoa goji power snacks
  • crackers/chips
  • granola
  • dark chocolate
  • a bag of rice or quinoa to make at the house

Cooking or Finding Nutritious Meals 

I always plan to go to the store the day we get there. I try to get things I couldn’t bring like:

  • fresh fruit —apples, bananas, blueberries, whatever you know you will eat
  • a few fresh veggies (sweet potatoes, bell peppers, lemons, mushrooms, spinach, or any green you like)
  • frozen fruits and veggies for smoothies (mangos, pineapple, strawberries – or get fresh and freeze them yourself)
  • box of pasta with tomatoes, and garlic or a jar of pasta sauce to make an easy pasta dish
  • oat milk for tea

Make sure to pack a few reusable bags for groceries! Try not to get too much stuff especially if you’re only there for a short time! Just a few good snacks and enough ingredients to make one or two meals!

Eating Out on Vacation

Expectations are always set pretty low, but looking back, almost every place I’ve been has had at least one, whole food plant based meal! Once in a while, that might mean a plain salad with tomatoes and beans, but that’s okay! Just make sure you’re getting a couple good snacks and meals a day, to keep your body functioning smoothly.

Try to look up some veggie friendly spots before your trip! Plan when you want to go, and get something extra to-go to eat later! Don’t be afraid to call the restaurant if you can’t find the menu online! There are also a few apps that give you all the vegan-friendly restaurants in a certain location! My favorite free one is called Vegan Maps. Do yourself a favor and do a little research beforehand so you are not stressed and hangry trying to find a place with – I’ve been there too many times!

Also, if you’re flying, here is a guide to the vegan options at some of the bigger airports in the US!

When eating out, some of the best places to find an array of plant-based whole food options are:

  • Juice bars and health food cafés- smoothies, juices, they also normally have some sort of veggie wrap, salad, or avocado toast
  • Thai cuisine- plenty of veggies, tofu, mushrooms, steamed white rice, make sure any fried spring rolls aren’t made with an egg roll wrapper
  • Indian cuisine- chickpeas, cauliflower, samosas, vegan naan(pita bread), 
  • Vietnamese cuisine- vegetable pho is the best thing ever- ask for vegetable broth pho with veggies, spring rolls, tofu

If you’re going somewhere that is a chain restaurant, you can google, “vegan options at ….” (insert the name) and you will find a list of all the vegan options at that certain restaurant!

Seriously though I was so happy to see that almost every restaurant we went to had something completely vegan! Tofu, rice, beans, and veggies were eaten often!

Preparing Your Body

Aside from preparing food options, there are so many things you can do for your body from the inside. 

Getting good sleep the week before, and during your trip is so important to give your body time to heal and to adjust to your surroundings.

  • Sometimes, the nerves make it hard to sleep, so getting in a little routine of stretching or doing a quick yoga flow before bed is an amazing thing that you can bring with you as a major stress reliever! 
  • have a calming tea before bed for a few days before your trip, especially if you’re a nighttime over-thinker!!
  • take a warm shower or bath right before getting in bed, but prep your environment before. Turn out any big lights, plug in your phone, and layout your pajamas for when you get out.

While all of these things are amazing and help so much with sleep and stress, Yoga or stretching is proven to actually support digestion. Moving your body helps relax your muscles and get things flowing.

During any trip, I always try my best to stretch every day. Even if that means five minutes in bed before I go to sleep or after I wake up. We carry so much stress in our bodies, it is so good to loosen up a bit since we can be extra tense in travel mode.

Making My Wellbeing a Priority

It definitely would be easy to not care. I could not have any sort of structure and just eat and do whatever is in front of me, but staying conscious about my triggers and taking notice of things like my fiber intake and hydration and movement, is what helps keep my body healthy and balanced through the whole trip. 

I used to be so burned out from obsessive food anxiety, wondering the whole time I’m eating something if it’s going to hurt my stomach. But what I wish I would’ve realized sooner is that learning about and listening to your body, preparing, and knowing your limits should be the number one priority! 

Even just a little bit of preparation can make the biggest difference in how you feel during your trip!