It’s that time again: weekend getaways and vacation! You’ve heard it a thousand times: Be prepared, pack smart, snack smart etc. etc… I won’t belabor the “no duh’s” of traveling, but for those of you still in search of some fresh, healthy travel snacks, I’ve got you covered.

Just to name a few:

• Popcorn Indiana’s FIT Popcorn: When it comes to a crunchy craving, this is one of my absolute favorites for an on-the-go snack.The sea salt is perfectly salty, but  if you’re feeling adventurous (I mean, you are traveling, right?), the extra virgin olive oil, along with all of their other unique flavors are also quite delicious. Unlike many brands of popcorn, this one is made without any genetically modified ingredients. Nothing but clean, delicious popcorn.
• Kind Bars: Nuts and dried fruit in bar form. Easy for eating on the road… though try to keep those hands on the wheel! Again, there are lots of flavors to choose from, such as Dark Chocolate Chili Almond (if you’re ready for that surprise heat at the end), Maple Glazed Pecan and Sea Salt (if you’re grabbing one of these for breakfast), and Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt (if you simply can’t decide between sweet and salty).

• Justin’s Nut Butter: Single portioned packs of nut butters that are perfect for travel. Pack one of these with a piece of fruit, and you’re all set. They even come in fun flavors such as chocolate hazelnut butter and maple almond butter.

• Annie Chun’s Seaweed Snacks: A salty snack to keep you away from those rest stop chips and pretzels.

• The Good Bean Dried Chick Peas: Protein, crunch… what more could you ask for? And in both sweet and savory flavors, they have all of your cravings covered.

• Vital Choice Pacific Individual Tuna Packets: Great for a more hearty, meal-like take-along option. Opt for the no-salt added option to reduce your sodium intake.

• Quaker Regular Organic Instant Oatmeal Individual Oatmeal Packets: Breakfast is a breeze if you know you’ll have access to a microwave. Just make sure you get the plain packets… no need for all of those unnecessary chemicals and unhealthy ingredients that are in the flavored packets.

• The Chia Co Individual Chia Shots: While I don’t usually recommend taking shots while driving, I’ll say a-ok to these, especially sprinkled in yogurt.

• Crunchies Freeze-Dried Fruit: Ranging from dried fruits to dried veggies, alike, these are another great option for that clearly necessary travel crunch.

• Barbara’s Puffins: Need a snack to keep those kids quietly munching in the backseat? Barbara’s Puffins, which now come in flavors such as Peanut Butter and Chocolate and Cinnamon are a yummy crunchy treat that won’t have the little ones asking where the chips and cookies are. Just be careful when it comes to portion control. Stick to the recommended 3/4 cup serving to keep sugar-intake in check.

• Carrington Farms Flax Pax: You know that travelling can wreak havoc on your bowels. You need fiber to keep you regular! These packs are great to sprinkle on your meals for a little extra added fiber. Sold in perfectly-portioned packages, they are great for traveling- no measuring required!

• Krave Turkey Jerky: Krave Jerky is among the cleaner of our turkey jerky friends. I love jerky, but many brands load their jerky with nitrates and tons and tons of sodium, which you definitely don’t need. Krave’s Basil Citrus jerky is packed with flavor but free of all nitrates. Perfect!

• Kitchen Table Baker Wafers: Who knew baked cheese could look so pretty? These thin crisps, made entirely from cheese, are a great source of protein to keep you full speed ahead when traveling, and the abundance of flavors make the possibilities endless.

So the next time you travel, before you decide that vacation= inevitable weight gain, pack along these healthy snacks to keep you right on track wherever you go. Whether you’re racking up the frequent flier miles or just a once-in-a-while vacationer, you have the means to snack smart at any and all destinations. Bon voyage!

It’s that time again: weekend getaways and vacation! You’ve heard it a thousand times: Be prepared, pack smart, snack smart etc. etc… I won’t belabor the “no duh’s” of traveling, but for those of you still in search of some fresh, healthy travel snacks, I’ve got you covered.

Just to name a few:

• Popcorn Indiana’s FIT Popcorn: When it comes to a crunchy craving, this is one of my absolute favorites for an on-the-go snack.The sea salt is perfectly salty, but  if you’re feeling adventurous (I mean, you are traveling, right?), the extra virgin olive oil, along with all of their other unique flavors are also quite delicious. Unlike many brands of popcorn, this one is made without any genetically modified ingredients. Nothing but clean, delicious popcorn.
• Kind Bars: Nuts and dried fruit in bar form. Easy for eating on the road… though try to keep those hands on the wheel! Again, there are lots of flavors to choose from, such as Dark Chocolate Chili Almond (if you’re ready for that surprise heat at the end), Maple Glazed Pecan and Sea Salt (if you’re grabbing one of these for breakfast), and Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt (if you simply can’t decide between sweet and salty).

• Justin’s Nut Butter: Single portioned packs of nut butters that are perfect for travel. Pack one of these with a piece of fruit, and you’re all set. They even come in fun flavors such as chocolate hazelnut butter and maple almond butter.

• Annie Chun’s Seaweed Snacks: A salty snack to keep you away from those rest stop chips and pretzels.

• The Good Bean Dried Chick Peas: Protein, crunch… what more could you ask for? And in both sweet and savory flavors, they have all of your cravings covered.

• Vital Choice Pacific Individual Tuna Packets: Great for a more hearty, meal-like take-along option. Opt for the no-salt added option to reduce your sodium intake.

• Quaker Regular Organic Instant Oatmeal Individual Oatmeal Packets: Breakfast is a breeze if you know you’ll have access to a microwave. Just make sure you get the plain packets… no need for all of those unnecessary chemicals and unhealthy ingredients that are in the flavored packets.

• The Chia Co Individual Chia Shots: While I don’t usually recommend taking shots while driving, I’ll say a-ok to these, especially sprinkled in yogurt.

• Crunchies Freeze-Dried Fruit: Ranging from dried fruits to dried veggies, alike, these are another great option for that clearly necessary travel crunch.

• Barbara’s Puffins: Need a snack to keep those kids quietly munching in the backseat? Barbara’s Puffins, which now come in flavors such as Peanut Butter and Chocolate and Cinnamon are a yummy crunchy treat that won’t have the little ones asking where the chips and cookies are. Just be careful when it comes to portion control. Stick to the recommended 3/4 cup serving to keep sugar-intake in check.

• Carrington Farms Flax Pax: You know that travelling can wreak havoc on your bowels. You need fiber to keep you regular! These packs are great to sprinkle on your meals for a little extra added fiber. Sold in perfectly-portioned packages, they are great for traveling- no measuring required!

• Krave Turkey Jerky: Krave Jerky is among the cleaner of our turkey jerky friends. I love jerky, but many brands load their jerky with nitrates and tons and tons of sodium, which you definitely don’t need. Krave’s Basil Citrus jerky is packed with flavor but free of all nitrates. Perfect!

• Kitchen Table Baker Wafers: Who knew baked cheese could look so pretty? These thin crisps, made entirely from cheese, are a great source of protein to keep you full speed ahead when traveling, and the abundance of flavors make the possibilities endless.

So the next time you travel, before you decide that vacation= inevitable weight gain, pack along these healthy snacks to keep you right on track wherever you go. Whether you’re racking up the frequent flier miles or just a once-in-a-while vacationer, you have the means to snack smart at any and all destinations. Bon voyage!

Traveling to tropical beaches for a relaxing, pampering getaway? Bring that smart AND sexy side out to stay safe on your trip! If we are not prepared, many of the beautiful places we choose for our relaxing vacation spots can be hazardous to our health. 75% of travelers report some health problem during trips abroad or when they return home. Up to 10% of travelers have infections/illnesses connected to their skin…yuck! Stay safe by staying up-to-date on travel advisories and know how to spot possible infection: The CDC has an extensive traveler’s health information website. Check it out here.

NLT: Don’t freak out about a possible skin infection as there are usually many ways to treat them. See a doctor and head to the emergency room ASAP, but in the meantime, be prepared with an all-natural skin remedy from Native Remedies. Monster bug-bites? Try an anti-itch cream that uses natural oils and flower extracts to sooth the skin. Get a cut or scrape and think it’s infected? Use their 100% herbal solution that will cleanse the wound.  Besides these first-aid kit must-haves, there are also many other natural, healthy skin products, like an herbal skin cream to help sooth that sunburn and help the skin heal.

When you’re relaxing at the beach, the last thing you you want to worry about is embarrassing body hair. Studies confirm that removing unwanted body hair is a true pre-beach routine for many.  In fact, women and an increasing number of men spend millions on this ritual each year.  In an effort to save a few bucks, more and more people are now turning to at-home solutions like shaving, depilatories (creams that remove hair), and waxing– all of which can cause unsightly bumps and bad reactions!  That’s why, according to Consumer Reports, many hair-removal products are going more natural by eliminating scary chemicals that can cause breakouts.

NLT: So the next time you’re in a hairy situation, get in on some natural action with Moon Organic Hair Removal Kit.  This USDA-certified organic product was founded on the premise that the skin is a receptive organ that absorbs what you put on it, so they’ve taken out all the harsh ingredients and replaced them with nourishing goodies.  That way, you can can go “au natural”, the natural way!

Does going on vacation mean time away from home and your healthy, active lifestyle? In a recent TripAdvisor study, 81% of vacationers admitted they are more likely to overindulge on vacation, and 34% said they often gain weight. Although many people are truly beach bums during their getaways, there are still some people who stick to their healthy ways. 52% said they still manage to workout while away…You can join them! I know it can be hard to get moving while you are at the beach, but squeezing in a little workout is do-able, and you can even catch some rays in the process. Whether it’s 20, 30, or 60 minutes of activity, give yourself a reasonable goal you can stick to.

NLT: Need to get in workouts at the beach? This is no problem with Gym Boss — a small interval timer that you can clip right onto your racer back. This little timer will vibrate every 30 seconds (or whatever interval of time you set it on), letting you know when to switch activities during your workout. Squats and pushups in the sand anyone?

Need a break from the day-to-day grind? Plan a vacation! Researchers in the Netherlands found that just the act of planning a vacation alone can boost happiness levels for a full eight weeks. Surprisingly, they found no increase in happiness levels after the vacation was over. This is likely due to the stress that can come from catching up on all the work you missed while you were away. Still, we all know that a good getaway can help us de-stress and relax, providing a fun little escape from reality for a few days. Pamper yourself and plan a trip this month. Ride the pre-vacation high and try to get organized before you leave so you can keep up the cheer when you get back to the real world.

NLT: Our friends at Travel to Wellness have teamed up with Spa & Club Casa Marino to give away a 6-night wellness retreat in San Miguel de Allende. The 6-night stay includes airport shuttle, accommodations for two, daily breakfast, spa treatments and more. Contest closes at midnight EST on April 21. What better way to pamper thyself than to escape on this wellness retreat with that special someone? Enter now to win!

Thinking of skipping your annual vacation this year because there is just too much to do? You’re not alone. Nearly 1/3 of Americans don’t use all of their allotted vacation time. You may think you are being a stellar employee by sticking around to help out at work, but skipping a vacation can actually make you more burned out less productive. In fact, research shows that workers are 25% more productive after returning from a vacation. Vacations are a great time to rest, refresh and recharge, so go ahead and plan that hard-earned vacation. And remember – a vacation is not a luxury…it’s a necessity!

NLT: Looking to do something different this summer? Why not participate in the world’s largest food fight? Each August, a giant tomato fight descends upon the tiny town of Bunol, Spain. In honor of this weeklong festival, 30,000 people gather to participate in a fun-spirited tomato battle! And with them comes 90,000 pounds of tomatoes ripe for battle. Check out  www.latomatinatours.com for more info.  And only a 45 minute train-ride from the beautiful Spanish coast, Bunol is the perfect summer destination. Delicious food, beautiful beaches and a tomato-covered afternoon of fun? Now that sounds like a vacation the whole family can enjoy! If Europe is too exotic for you, then embrace your inner child and have a water fight in your backyard instead.