Absolutely nothing should get in
the way of your vacation enjoyment! You’ve worked hard, and now it’s time to
play hard. Sometimes, even pleasurable travel can be stressful. I’ve learned
that one of the best ways to minimize travel stress and enjoy a vacation to the
fullest is by finding ways to carry healthy-eating habits with me on my trip.
Several aspects of travel present
challenges to healthy
eating. First, your regular routine changes when you travel. Second, away
from home you will face different types of foods as well as temptations that
you know how to avoid at home. A little advance planning will help you navigate
the labyrinth of unhealthy and processed foods you will encounter on vacation
and keep you eating healthy through the duration of your trip.
Before
you leave, take the time to learn about your destination. Doing a little
research into the hotel and restaurants in the area can go a long way. I have
found reviews be extremely helpful in my travels because they provide the most
unbiased and true information. I recently found a great site that listed the hotels in Las Vegas I was
interested in with reviews regarding restaurants, amenities, and things to do.
This information made it extremely helpful to maintain a healthy lifestyle
while away. Find out all you can about local restaurants. Locate a health food
store in the area where you can stop for snacks to keep in your hotel room, and
look for a hotel that has in-room refrigerators so you will be able to stock
fruits and veggies there to ward off late-night cravings.
If you plan to fly, consider what
you will eat on the plane. I always pack some healthy snacks
like raw almonds and some fruit or fresh veggies in my carry-on bag to keep me
from succumbing to high-sodium or sugary refreshments served on the plane. If
an in-flight meal will be served, take the time to order an alternative to the
regular meal. Low-sodium or vegetarian options are best.
Drink plenty of water throughout
your trip. This may be easier at home, but it’s just as important when you
travel. I like to carry a water bottle along with me that I can refill
anywhere. This will save you money at tourist attractions where bottled water
can be very expensive. It will also help you avoid the temptation of drinking
soda or other sugary and caffeinated beverages.
On vacation, you will probably be
eating at several restaurants. Follow the same guidelines you do when eating
out near your home. Before heading to a nice dinner, eat a handful of raw
carrots or an apple to take the edge off your hunger and keep you from filling
up on bread before your meal arrives. Read the menu carefully. Find healthy
selections under words such as “broiled” and “steamed.” Avoid words like
“battered,” “smothered” or “bottomless.” Speaking of bottomless, avoid
all-you-can-eat restaurants as well. It’s too easy to keep eating after you are
full when you’ve paid to eat all you possibly can.
Of course, when you get away on
vacation, you may want to splurge a little. Feel free to enjoy some local
delights. The key to vacationing healthy is moderation. If you eat a healthy
breakfast, go ahead and enjoy that world-famous corn dog at lunchtime. Just be
sure to follow it with a healthy afternoon snack if you get hungry later.
Until next time, keep reaching for that healthy, happy life you deserve.
GUEST AUTHOR: Cole Millen
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