Don't Leave Home Without These 10 Must-Have Travel Accessories

"Succumbing became all too easy, and a few bites quickly became the whole bar," my friend confessed about a particularly stressful three-hour airport layover when, after downing two glasses of pinot noir, she headed straight to one of the terminal's many bodegas, where she purchased and devoured a gargantuan dark chocolate bar.

Whether for work or vacation, travel becomes stressful enough. Why add another stressor determining how you'll find healthy, low-sugar impact foods?

I know how challenging finding healthy food can become. Whether I'm doing a book tour, attending conferences, or meeting with my publisher, I spend about half my year on the road. Staying on top of my game, even with a grueling 14-hour day or holed up in some remote location, becomes mandatory. Unfortunately, every city doesn't have a Whole Foods or fabulous health food store, which requires me to plan ahead when I travel.

Whether I'm going on a long-weekend jaunt to New York City or a two-week book tour on the West Coast, I always carry along these 10 essentials.

1. Green drink. Meeting your veggie quota on the road can prove challenging. That's why I never leave home without a powdered green drink that contains a proprietary blend of fruits and vegetables plus fiber, which helps me get my leafy greens when the only airport option is iceberg lettuce (yuck!).
2. Dark chocolate. Note to my friend above: This is not a more-is-better food. Find a high-cacao (85 or 90%) low-sugar impact bar, buy it raw when you can, break off one serving, and pawn off the rest (especially if dark chocolate becomes your frenemy!). 
3. Green tea. The primary compound in green tea, ECGC, boosts metabolism and promotes fast fat loss. And theanine provides calm for what can become a very stressful, long taping day. When I'm feeling extra gourmet, I'll visit an airport specialty tea store for a jasmine green tea.
4. Coconut milk. I carry those single-serving cartons of unsweetened coconut milk, which I blend into my protein shake. They don’t require refrigeration until you open them.
5. Protein powder. Protein, healthy fats, nutrients, and fiber: I always travel with an all-in-one plant- or animal-based protein powder. This tip alone has saved me on numerous travel occasions.
6. Earplugs and an eye mask. Because you're probably going to encounter a screaming baby, a mother-in-law who gets up at 3 a.m., a glaring sleep-interferring light, or an incredibly noisy hotel "neighbor" on your next trip.
7. Protein bars. Look for low-sugar impact, high-fiber options. I designed my own bars because I couldn't find a smartly designed protein bar without junky ingredients. 
8. Starch blockers. When you're traveling, sometimes you consume a little more carbohydrates than you want. Starch blockers provide that extra insurance when you're faced with an entree plate of quinoa pasta.
9. Nutrient packets. Amidst packing and travel anxiety, who has time to sort supplements? Essential nutrient packets do that job for you. Look for professional-brand supplements that contains essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids in one grab-and-go packet.
10. Melatonin. Jet lag, time-zone differences, and super-early morning conferences are just a few of the things that impede a great night's sleep. Supplementing with melatonin can become your primo ticket here. One meta-analysis about sleep disorders concluded melatonin supplementation “decreases sleep onset latency, increases total sleep time and improves overall sleep quality.”

Your turn: What must-have essential would you add to this travel list? Share yours below or on my Facebook page.