Tomorrow I head out to Baltimore for FitBloggin’! I’m very much looking forward to getting away for the weekend and especially to be able to meet up with lots of other health and fitness bloggers. The conference sessions look fantastic. (By the way, who’s all going to FitBloggin’? I’d love to meet you if you’ll be there!)

Since it’s a conference for health and fitness bloggers, it looks as though the meals will be fairly nutritious—lots of oatmeal, fruit, and salad options, as well as eggs and quinoa and such. The meals for the conference will only be for Friday and Saturday, however, and seeing as I’m flying out tomorrow and won’t be home until Sunday afternoon, I’ll be on my own for a few more meals.

I’ve done a decent amount of traveling and one of my first priorities is to maintain good health on the road. Here are a couple strategies for staying healthy so that you arrive at your destination in tip-top shape and will continue to have abundant amounts of energy during your stay:

• Pack a lunch. Take along a couple apples, a sandwich, or some pre-cut veggies to munch on during your flight. Obviously don’t take liquids with you as they’ll just get confiscated. Choose hardier whole foods which can withstand the trip: soft fruits can get squished in your bag, whereas apples and carrot sticks can usually get tossed around a fair amount without too much damage.

• Plan ahead. If you know that some of your meals will be provided but that others will not, use Google to find some local restaurants or a grocery store near your hotel. You can have your meals all planned out before you even leave home.

• Be a local. One of the best parts about traveling is that you get to see what the local customs are and immerse yourself in them! Why bother going to a chain restaurant that you recognize if you can go to a local cafe which you’ll never have a chance to go to again? Visiting the farmers’ markets available can also be a lot of fun, especially if your destination has vastly different produce than your own.

• Indulge a little. I prefer to book early morning flights, and this means that I might get a muffin or a breakfast sandwich for the plane ride. It’s something that I so rarely indulge in that it’s a nice little treat. But here it is best to at least go for whole grains, free-range meats/eggs, or locally-sourced items so that your treat will sustain you and keep your energy levels up.

• Explore. Planning is crucial to living healthy, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be spontaneous, too. Spontaneity and irresponsibility do not go hand-in-hand. If you happen to meet new friends on the road and they invite you out to a fancy meal, by all means go—you can always make healthier choices. Or if you adore bagels and stumble upon a famous bagel cafe in Bagel City a.k.a. NYC, then absolutely have the bagel! The key is to choose your indulgences wisely and try to eat healthier for your other meals that day.

• Schedule your meals. Some people can go about their entire day and not eat anything until 3:00 p.m. I am not one of those people. If you know that you need to eat regularly but you’re going to be out and about all day long, take along a little snack in your bag—even if it’s just a piece of fruit or a couple granola bars—as an emergency snack in case you don’t have time to have a proper meal. If you take along a small snack, it will prevent you from becoming famished and reaching for the first sugary or salty item that you can find.

What are your favourite strategies for eating healthy on the road?