RVing is amazing, but just like any other type of traveling, it can throw you off your healthy living game. It makes sense really – you’re out of your routines and distracted by the adventure. Plus, a vacation mindset can creep in, letting you slack off on your healthy choices – after all, you’re on vacation! But it really is possible to have a great time on your trip AND keep the trip healthy without depriving yourself of a true vacation.
It all comes down to how you organize your trip.
If you go to the trouble of planning out an RV trip, doesn’t your health deserve the same level of attention? One reason people struggle with RVing healthily is that they neglect to plan it from the get-go. Set yourself up for success before the trip even begins with these tips and checklists. Do this, and you just might even come back from your travels fitter and healthier than you left!
TIP 1: Move Every Single Day
Fill your days with fun activities that keep you moving. Go for a hike or swim, window shop a touristy downtown, play an outdoor game with your family, or even do an actual workout right at your campsite on your patio mat. When you’re choosing RV parks and campsites, find ones that make it easy for you to stay active. When you get there, choose to walk or bike instead of driving whenever you can. Staying active can easily be incorporated into your vacation without it feeling like a chore. It can even make the trip more fun and memorable.
Physical Activity Checklist:
- Athletic shoes
- Athletic wear
- Small day hike backpack
- Bicycle & helmet
- Outdoor Games: Cornhole, Frisbee, Bocce, Pickleball, etc.
- Binoculars
- Yoga Mat
- Resistance Bands
- Other fitness & workout gear: ie dumbbells, kettlebells, jump rope, etc.
- Water gear: ie swimwear, kayak, paddleboard, etc.
TIP 2: Make Healthy Eating Part of the Adventure:
Planning your meals and snacks ahead of time is one of the best ways to ensure you’ll eat nutritiously on your RV trips. An upcoming trip is a great time to explore new recipes and get out of your cooking comfort zone. When you plan your foods ahead, you’ll only shop for the meals and snacks on your list. Since you’ll only have the RV stocked with the foods in your meal plan, you’re less likely to turn to unhealthy, quick options.
You can even seek out local farmers’ markets along your route and stock up on fresh, in-season foods. Eating local foods makes the meal seem more special, especially since you’ll know you only have them because you’re right there at that moment in that season. On your long driving days, avoid loading up on gas station junk food by having pre-portioned healthy snacks (like your favorite kind of nuts) or fresh fruits and veggies stocked in the RV. With a little planning and creativity, eating healthy and delicious can be the best part of the trip!
Try one of our custom healthy recipes below:
Healthy Eating Checklist:
- Pre-portioned healthy snacks (nuts, fresh fruits, and veggies, etc)
- 3 days’ worth of healthy meal plans
- Groceries for the meal plans
- List of farmers’ markets on your route
- Kitchen tools to make RV cooking easy
TIP 3: Relax and Sleep:
While RV trips themselves are a way to rejuvenate and take a break from normal life, they can be stressful and chaotic, too. It’s important to make sure you’re balancing all the trip excitement with some relaxation time. Relaxing activities differ for us all, but whatever it is you like to do that lowers your stress levels, pack it in the RV. You also want to make sure you’re getting ample pillow time on your trips. Sleeping is the foundation for health, but it can get tricky when RVing, especially if you have an uncomfortable mattress. Ask any RVer, and they’ll tell you there will be nights in the RV where things out of your control (noisy neighbors, bad weather, etc) will mess with your sleep. When they do, be prepared by having some sleep-helping items ready and waiting in the RV and by making your RV bed the most comfortable it can be.
Relaxation and Sleep Checklist:
- A comfortable mattress
- Camp chairs
- Hammock
- Headphones
- Puzzles
- Arts & crafts
- Reading material
- Meditation pillow
- Earplugs
- Eye mask
- Mini-fan or white noise app
- Lavender essential oil
TIP 4: Take Care of Your Health and Safety:
No one wants to think that during their RV trips they could become sick or injured or put in an unsafe position, but the reality is that mishaps can occur. Packing the RV with first aid essentials will help you stay safe, on track, and prepared for anything on your journey. Odds are you will never use the first aid items, but having them will allow you to enjoy your travels with peace of mind, safe in the knowledge that you are prepared. For urgent emergencies travel insurance, like Good Sam’s Travel Assist, will protect you and prevent large expenses. Because really, nothing is more important than your health and safety.
Health and Safety Checklist:
- Pharmacy: prescriptions, anti-inflammatories, allergy, motion sickness, antacids, etc.
- Topicals: Antibiotic, Anti-itch, sunscreen, bug spray, aloe vera lotion
- Rain gear: jackets, umbrellas etc
- Water bottles or backpack hydration system
- Sunglasses
- Paper maps
- Road flares
- Flashlights and headlamps
- First-aid instruction manual
- ACE bandages
- Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
- Sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape
- Antiseptic wipes
- Tissues
- Cotton swabs
- Hand sanitizer
- Hot/cold packs
- Disposable gloves
- Rubbing alcohol
- Safety pins
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Thermometer
Before your next trip, use this packing list to ensure you’re setting yourself up for a healthy trip from the start. What would you add to a healthy RV trip?
