Travelling with Hashimoto's
Travelling with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism can be exhausting. Literally!
When not surrounded by your everyday “management tools” and inevitably eating out more, it can be extremely overwhelming to ensure you’re staying on top of any potential flare ups and energy crashes.
For me personally, I choose to avoid anti-inflammatory foods in my day to day life (this includes wheat | gluten | refined sugars | dairy), so when travelling to France recently, home of baguettes, croissants and fromage, I HAD keep things as super simple and as stress free for my body (and mind) as possible.
I’m not perfect, and my indulgence in a pain au chocolat’s proves this point, however I did find that following a few very simple tips helped me to stay focused and mindful with a good dose of ease and grace at all times. I thought I’d share them with you today in the hopes that one or two may help you with any travels you have planned.
Eat Lunch Out | For us, savouring long lazy lunches over a glass of wine is just how we roll. As some of the great pleasures of eating out at this time of day (instead of at dinnertime) is you rarely have to book, meals are usually cheaper, you can thoroughly relax and enjoy the meal knowing you’ll be walking it off during the afternoon (and not going to bed with a full tummy) AND you can order suitable dishes that are aligned with your own eating plan (no need to grab a quick, pre-made stale sandwich). When eating out, I personally lean towards the “side dish menu” as they usually packed with delicious and simple veggies and salads, which you should find some version of on just about every menu in every country.
Movement | When travelling, my preferred mode of transport are my legs or a push bike. Leave the cars and cabs at home! I can honestly say it’s the best (and really, the only) way to really discover a place, as you get to see, smell and touch everything up close and personal. We would often walk for 25+ km per day without even realising it, getting fresh air, discovering hidden gems and getting a good dose of vitamin d all at the same time.
Cook | As we tend to eat lunch out, we then love nothing better than to pick up fresh, seasonal produce from the local markets to have for our breakfast and dinner back home at the apartment This can be as simple as big bows of fresh fruit or fresh avocado with a good squeeze of lemon on toast. I always ensure when organising a holiday that our accommodation comes with a fully equipped kitchen - making cooking a joy. I do acknowledge that the fact that that I LOVE to cook helps with this tip!
Slow Down | Make sure you schedule in some “down time” to your holiday. Remember, stress creates inflammation and if you’re travelling with Hashimoto’s like me, you want to avoid this at all costs. To me, “down time” is absolutely crucial to my health and is non-negotiable. This includes time to read my book each morning, with no alarm clocks, switching off my phone and taking the to look up.
Google | It’s your friend, so do a little research before you take off on restaurants, cafes, supermarkets in the area you’ll be staying. Without this tip, I would not have discovered the beautiful oasis that was Cafe Pinson. (pictured)
Located in a tiny little street in the Marais (3rd arrondissement), this juice bar | café | restaurant is filled with seasonal 100% organic produce, is vegetarian and vegan friendly, and offers wheat-free and dairy-free options.
I felt my body buzzing in complete happiness as I stepped through the door, and I think I left a little of my heart behind.
They even offered almond milk lattes!
Pinson Marais
6 rue du forez
Paris (3rd arrondissement)