Simple ways to eat healthy while on vacation
If you’re like most people, going on vacation isn’t something you can do very often. As such, you may feel the need to “treat yourself” to foods that you would not normally eat at home. While an occasional dessert or fried temptation won’t hurt, choosing those foods frequently while on vacation will only regret it.
First, by making poor food choices while on vacation, you could end up establishing a bad eating habit that will be difficult to break once you return home. Second, choosing the wrong foods means you will have less energy for activities on your vacation. Last (but certainly not least), you might be in for a surprise a few days later when you get ready to put on a bathing suit!
Now that you are convinced of the importance of eating healthy on vacation, you will be pleasantly surprised to find out how easy it is to do.
Eat en route
Are you flying to your destination? These days, it’s easier than ever to order a vegetarian or low-fat meal on an airplane flight! If your flight does not provide meals, you should consider carrying a healthy snack in your carry-on bag. Fruits, nuts, trail mix, or beef jerky are good choices.
Turn it into a road trip? You don’t have to depend on a vehicle on the road to feed your family on the road. Bring a cooler full of ice packs and fill it with fresh fruits and vegetables, yogurt, bottled water, and steak sandwiches. Take some bread, crackers, and trail mix with you, and you’re ready on the spot for a healthy roadside picnic!
Once you arrive
If you’re staying in a hotel with a minibar, do yourself a favor: lower the key. It is better to avoid temptation entirely. If your accommodation offers a continental or buffet breakfast, limit yourself to fruits, low-sugar cereals, and protein. Just avoid the fattiest proteins like bacon and hot dogs! Avoid donuts and cakes at all costs, as they are packed with empty calories, sugar, and fat. If your hotel has a stove or microwave, consider bringing your own healthy food.
When eating out at a restaurant, eat only when you are hungry. Just be careful not to overdo it. Remember that most restaurants serve large portions and depending on your selection of entrees, you may also receive salad and bread as part of your meal. With this in mind, it is generally best to skip the order for appetizers. The less food you have in front of you, the less you will be tempted to eat. However, if you overindulge a bit on one meal, just cut back on the next one.
If you find it difficult to include three well-balanced meals a day, try including five or six smaller meals or snacks. Regardless, your body really needs fuel every four hours. Whatever you do, don’t skip any meals.
Things to remember
Choose fish or poultry for your meal over heavier red meats, and be sure to include plenty of veggies as a garnish. When possible, avoid eating large meals at night. As your body prepares for sleep, it slows down and burns calories at a much slower rate. Never eat bread before bed and be sure to avoid butter.
As you already know, eating healthy during the holidays is not that difficult. The hardest part is exercising your willpower to pass up foods that you know are not good for you. The most important thing to remember is that eating healthy is a way of life (whether you’re on vacation or preparing meals at home). Your choice to eat healthy doesn’t mean that you still can’t afford to feed a craving every now and then, it just means that you shouldn’t make it a habit. The key is knowing when to stop.