There are few things in life as exhilarating as travel. The thrill of discovery, a change of scenery, new food, new people. What's not to love? For many of us, it's the actual travel part.  Planes, trains, and automobiles have their own inherent hassles built in, but I've found that there are some simple things we can do to alleviate travel stress and make the experience more pleasant. 

I'm particularly un-fond of air travel, not only because of the cramped coach quarters and the (generally) lousy food, but the sense of having absolutely no control. My life is, quite literally, in someone else's hands--and for control freaks, that's hard to handle.  To settle into the discomfort, I never travel without flower essences.

Crisis Cooler and Protect Me do what  their names suggest, helping subtly shift my nervous,  anxious traveler's energy from negative to positive, without side-effects. (Take that, red wine!) They're based on the same principles as Bach Flower Essences, and rely on the healing power of plants for their potency.

My second travel essential is a tiny statue of the hindu god Ganesh. Small but substantive (it's made of solid silver), it's been my goodluck charm for more than a decade and has been all around the world, from Northern Europe to Southeast Asia and beyond.  Remover of obstacles? We all need that kind of juju when trying to get from Point A to Point B.

Finally, I never travel without a water bottle and a healthy snack, and my go-to is almonds. They're  tasty, easy to pack, and and give me sustenance on those too-common occasions when my vegan meal is forgotten or unavailable. 

What essentials do you pack in your carry-on bag? Please share!

It's lunchtime. I'm hungry, but it's a deadline day and I don't have time to whip up a mini-feast. What's a ravenous girl to do when she needs something fast and satisfying that will fill her up without weighing her down? Natto, of course!

Natto falls under the category of "acquired tastes"--at least for most of us who didn't grow up eating a traditional Japanese diet. Natto is simply fermented soybeans, and they're usually sold at Japanese or Korean supermarkets in these awful little Styrofoam containers. (The only natto negative I've found so far!)

How does it taste? Weirdly cheesy, in a really good way. And savory. And rich. The one thing that takes a little getting used to is natto's sticky, stringy quality. It's got that same sort of viscosity as, say, okra, or ... well, use your imagination (or don't). 

Natto is really good for you. Besides the good bacteria that supports intestinal health, it's a protein powerhouse and is a good source for your Omega-3 fatty acids.  Have you ever tried natto? What do you love about it?