
They say the average person gains roughly five to 10 pounds while dining out when vacationing and traveling, with the all-you-can-eat buffets, indulging in cocktails and overall lounging around. But you don’t have to be the average person. True, you’ll want to try the different food cuisines but trust me, you can still eat healthy and maintain your fitness by checking out the epicurean treat that are available to you at most restaurants. Including the hotel amenities, such as the fitness center, hotel pool and sauna, instead of hitting the buffets. I went to Texas earlier this year, and at first, I was concerned that I would lose the discipline that I worked so hard to maintain. However, I found there are several health food stores and restaurants with nutritional alternatives to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Here are six things you can do to maintain your health and increase your agility while still allowing you to enjoy your trip!
- Get active
- Karaoke and live music
- Learn to dance (or other lessons)
- Water activities
- Traveling snack food
- Vegetables like carrots and broccoli tossed in (local) olive oil or dipped in almond butter
- Hard boiled eggs (pre peeled!)
- Pre-cooked roasted sweet potatoes
- Single serving packs of guacamole
- Pre-made salad (yes, you can get this through security with dressing on!)
- Eat Healthy While Traveling
- If picking your own restaurants, search directly in Google, Yelp, or Trip Advisor for keywords like “grass-fed” or “gluten-free” along with “restaurant” and the name of city you’re visiting.
- When you arrive at a restaurant, tell the waiter you are gluten-free (dairy-free, or whatever you are trying to avoid) and would appreciate their help in making substitutions. Most of the time, they’ll make immediate recommendations and let the chef know your sensitivity.
- When ordering salads, simply ask to sub the dressing for a side of olive oil (if you didn’t bring your own!) Ask them to hold any croutons or cheeses if you’re choosing to avoid gluten and processed dairy.
- You can order any burger dish by simply asking them to hold the bun or replace the bun with lettuce leaves, and leave any sauce on the side. If you’d like to avoid the items fried in vegetable oils, sub out the fries for other sides they offer like grilled vegetables.
- You can order any entrée dish that includes meats like steak, fish, or chicken, and ask for “double the veggies” as your side if it comes with other sides that are breaded or topped with cheese.
- If you’re trying to avoid vegetable oils, ask if there is an option to have your meat or vegetables cooked in butter instead of the typical canola oil.
