This Grocery Trick for Easier Travel

Hello Reader,​
✉️ Monday Momentum #34
​

Heya Fit Travel Tribe,​
Today’s Monday Momentum is brought to you by the quiet benefit of...

🥦Packing Your Groceries🍞

Wait...like in a suitcase?

YES!!!

I literally just did this for multiple reasons.

Not a whole fridge.

Just the things I know I’ll use every day. Especially since I took a bus (not a plane) and I'll remain in the same destination with a kitchen for 2 weeks.
​

👉Before leaving on a trip, when it makes sense, I buy these in bulk at home, portion them out into small containers or bags, and pack them in my backpack.

Sound a bit strange?

This one habit has saved me TONS of money, removed a surprising amount of stress, and made longer trips much easier.

Check out more below!

Përshëndetje from Prishtinë!

Hiya from Kosovo!​
I'm here in the capital, Prishtina, for 2 weeks total (halfway through as of today). Just constantly, strategically managing my Schengen time...

The Newborn monument gets painted every year to celebrate Kosovo's independence. It sits in front of that geometrically odd structure that has my gym in the back haha.

The National Library of Kosovo - literally listed as "one of the ugliest buildings in the world!" ​This is a close-up of the metal lattice covering the entire facade. It is quite bizarre indeed!

I'm enjoying having regular gym sessions and I greatly appreciating the coffee culture here (it's super cheap - like 1 euro for an espresso!!)

With all the recent traveling over the last couple years, my social battery is running a bit low. As much as I love Couchsurfing, I just needed my own space. So I booked my own apartment with a solid kitchen and space for morning workouts.

Also...quick story time...
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Coffee Culture = Therapy ❤️‍🩹 I visited the Children of War Museum (sad yet very informative) and I had an incredible conversation about second-hand trauma with the staff member there. I had pointed at the "what is trauma?" pamphlet and asked how mental health is considered in Kosovo (ex: do people use therapy?) Yes, there is a stigma so no, people don't do therapy. She then said my favorite words "Want to hear a fun fact?" (ALWAYS!!!) She asked if I noticed how many cafes there are in Prishtina? Omg there are a ton!!

She offered that coffee culture here is their form of therapy - Sharing stories, expressing feelings, listening to others, etc. Interesting insight.​ ​

P.S. The cup shown above is from my favorite coffee shop here. I've been searching for a cute cup for my "special coffee ritual" (aka drinking yummy espresso from my new machine at home). Excited to buy some!

BIG PERSONAL LIFE UPDATE:

My partner and I (finally!) signed our final apartment contract for our new property in Sofia!!!!!!

We should be getting keys soon and then there's the big adventure of moving! (You always find out you have waaaay more stuff than you think).

Another reason why I took my two weeks right after we signed the contract was because we couldn't move the first two weekends of March anyway. So excited for our new home!

🛬Can You Take Protein Powder on a Plane?

This is a surprisingly common travel concern for those who frequently strength train and are looking to maintain their protein intake even while traveling.
​

Me?? I ALWAYS pack protein powder when I travel since I use some every day.

But...
​Unmarked powder in an non-sealed bag?

SUPER SKETCH!!!

​
​Questions you might have:

• How is TSA going to react when you go through security?
• Is it possible to cause delays?
• Does quantity of protein powder matter?
• What about your destination and foreign laws?​
  ​

If you've ever traveled with protein powder before OR if you're curious about doing so in the future,
​check out my newest blog post below:

📍Via Ferrata in Peja, Kosovo

One of the reasons I first visited Kosovo a couple years ago was for a very underrated adventure sport:

Via Ferrata

If you’ve never heard of Via Ferrata before...​
It’s basically a professionally-designed protected climbing route built into mountains using:

• Steel cables
• Ladders
• Metal rungs

You wear a harness and are double-clipped into the cable as you climb.
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It is MUCH easier than outdoor rock climbing (which I personally find terrifying)!!

My first Kosovo trip was specifically to go to Peja, where there’s an incredible Via Ferrata route. I specifically aspired to do the "moderate" course.

And the best part?

It’s incredibly affordable!!

I paid €8 total to rent the helmet and harness (because I did it unguided).

I had previously done a Via Ferrata in Banff, Canada and I felt confident enough in my skills, but also more so knowing it's just a one-way route...you can't get lost! The rope guides you from start to finish.

If you like adventure travel but don’t want the cost of guided mountaineering trips, Via Ferrata is a fantastic option.

🛒 Buying in Bulk & Packing a Portion for your Trip

Since I came to Prishtina by bus instead of plane, I had more flexibility with what I packed. So I did something I always recommend to travelers:

I packed food from home.​
​

What did I bring?

• Heaping scoops of protein powder (the good quality kind I buy at home)
• Collagen powder and protein bars (again, quality!)
• Dried chickpeas & beans
• Even some fresh beets that I didn't eat before leaving home (don't want to waste them!)

Here’s why this is one of my favorite travel hacks.

1️⃣You control the quality ​
No guesswork on if that item is even available in your destination (let alone the quality, like protein powder)

2️⃣Bulk buying saves money​
Much cheaper than single-serve packets and I never manage to eat a whole bag of dried beans if I buy it on my trip. Just portion out exactly how much you need.

3️⃣It lightens your bag over time​
Whether that creates space for souvenirs or even just a lighter bag for your travel day home

Always on my mind: More money for more travel! It's often worth a little homework for those savings 💸

“ Entrepreneur is just French for 'has ideas, does them' ​ ​​ ​ — Alexis Ohanian

A friendly favor (tiny ask): If this helped, share with one friend and use my links when you buy gear/cards. It costs you nothing - it just keeps my content free. Thank you ❤️

Feel free to always respond back to this email with any thoughts and questions you might have or content you'd love to see in the future.

Happy travels & healthy living,

Heidi​
​Heidirunsabroad.com ✈️💪

Note: Some images and GIFs sourced from Unsplash and Giphy.