When you are on vacation, you may
be surrounded by fast food options, theme parks filled with food such as cotton
candy and funnel cakes, and a lack of exercise opportunities. In addition, the long hours spent traveling
by car or plane does not benefit a healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, there are some tips and tricks
you can take to make your vacation as healthy as possible.
Prior to Departure
Some of the worst eating on a
vacation comes in the airport. For this reason it is extremely important to
ensure that you eat a hearty and nutritious meal prior to your departure so
that you don’t feel the need to indulge in the temptations in the airport. If
you have a long layover make sure to pack along
some healthy snacks that you can munch on. If need be try to navigate the
airport to find a healthy salad or grilled chicken meal that will fill your
belly while providing you with healthy essentials.
Researching Healthy Hotel Options
When
you are planning your vacation, try to find a health conscious hotel and area.
Pay special attention to amenities around the hotel and area, such as pools,
fitness rooms, and breakfast included in the hotel. This can be difficult but I’ve found is most
effective by browsing various websites to research travel reviews. When you read the reviews, try to discover
what is included in the hotel breakfast.
Hotels often include a selection of yogurt and fruit in their
continental breakfast, which is a healthy alternative to waffles and bacon. Ask
about nearby walking trails or other fitness related activities that are within
walking distance to your hotel. These
would be a good way to keep your fitness level up while you are away from home.
I took a trip to Miami of late and found a great site that allowed me to read reviews
regarding the hotels, restaurants, and even things to do. This helped me to
find a work out class nearby on the beach in the morning right by my hotel!
Snacks for Your Hotel Room
If your hotel has a small
refrigerator in the room, consider purchasing yogurt, string cheese, or fruits
to keep in the room. The protein and
complex carbohydrates in the oatmeal and cheese will help keep you feeling full
for a longer period of time. This will help you avoid the temptation of the
hotel vending machine or room service when you get hungry.
Another idea to help you eat
healthy and save money is to bring a small crockpot on your vacation. You can
make simple and healthy meals in your hotel room, such as chicken, rice, and
steamed vegetables.
Eating Out At Restaurants
When you do need to eat out on
vacation, it can be hard to find healthy alternatives that taste good. Look on the restaurant
menu for key words such as baked, broiled, or grilled. Ask for sauces on the side and remove the
skin from chicken. Making these small
substitutions will save calories while not affecting the taste of your
meal.
If you have a choice of a side
dish with your meal, add extra steamed or fresh vegetables. This will give you more food for a small
amount of calories, and you will also get the added bonus of nutritious
vitamins. If you do not feel like you are getting a wide variety of nutrients
on vacation, consider bringing your regular multi-vitamin with to supplement
your food choices.
By taking these tips into
consideration when you are planning your vacation, you will be able to
incorporate healthy food options into your trip and avoid calorie-laden junk
food. Bringing your own snacks,
researching hotels, and smart restaurant choices are all things you can do to
keep you healthy while on vacation.
__ Ellen J. Barrier
