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.
By Cole Millen| Cole Millen is an avid traveler and foodie who never forgets that life’s best memories are made through real life apprehension of legitimate “experiences.” Follow his blog at Cole’s Mill.
