How to Eat Healthy on Vacation
Eating healthy on a vacation can be challenging. You’re already feeling ready to relax and forget about work and your other responsibilities and your schedule is also completely out of whack, so you aren’t eating at normal times. These things combined definitely lower the motivation to eat how you normally do at home, but your body will thank you if you at least TRY to eat some healthy items. While it’s important to indulge and have fun on vacation, making a few healthy choices here and there shouldn’t be too hard. Here are some suggestions for staying healthy while on your vacation.
- Try just adding one healthy option to your plate.
At breakfast take an extra serving of fruit or at dinner, if you get two sides, try and make one a healthy one. These small decisions will make a huge difference in how you feel each day. If you eat a little bit healthier, you’ll have more energy to enjoy all of the activities you want to do.
- Try limiting your indulgences or sweets to one a day.
I find that if dessert isn’t a restaurant’s specialty it may not be worth it. Try picking one item a day from the resort or place you’re staying and eat the item you think looks best instead of overindulging in desserts that might not be worth the calories.
- Try to stay hydrated.
Many times we think we’re hungry, we’re actually just thirsty. Couple the heat or just general activity on your trip with the extra adult beverages you’re probably consuming, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Try bringing water with you wherever you go, or remind yourself to drink water between meals. It will make you feel full and help you to make healthier choices instead of chowing down on empty calories.
- If you’re going to be driving or flying, try and bring snacks that are healthy.
On a long car ride it’s easy to get bored and want to eat, so try and arm yourself with healthy snacks to keep you nourished. If you’re flying, you know airports are chockfull of unhealthy options. Try grabbing something like trail mix to snack on and avoid the food court. Save your indulgences for the actual vacation!
- If you’re going to be staying in a hotel, avoid the minibar. It’s expensive and full of unhealthy choices.
If you can, try purchasing your own healthy snacks to stock the fridge with so in the least you have healthy options in your room.
- Vacations are vacations for a reason, you’re not supposed to follow your normal routines.
It’s important to enjoy yourself and have a treat. You might just feel a little bit better if you try and eat some healthy choices along the way. Whether you are on an active vacation or a sit in a lounge chair vacation you’ll still want to make smart choices and stay hydrated. Life is all about balance so don’t be hard on yourself if you indulge more than you were planning. Vacation is to be enjoyed.
