Whether your summer vacation is taking you on a road trip, to a foreign country, or even a nearby campground, eating healthy while traveling is always a challenge. Sure, this is a time to relax, unwind, and celebrate the sunshine. After all, ’tis the season for exploration and a much-needed break from routine!
However, it that doesn’t mean you should throw all your healthy habits out the window. If you stay well-fed and active during your time off, you’ll return more energized and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.
So to help you prepare for your upcoming trip, here are a few tips for eating healthy while traveling this summer.
Eat at Home Before You Get to the Airport
Having a splurge meal at the airport before a flight is an enduring tradition for many air travelers. However, airport food tends to be less than healthy and is almost always over-priced. Save yourself the unnecessary calories and money by eating at home before you head to the airport.
Skip the Fast Food Drive-Thru
If your summer vacation involves a road trip, you may be tempted by roadside diners and fast food joints. Do your best to resist this convenience and instant gratification, and choose a sit-down restaurant instead. Not only will the food likely be of better quality, but you’ll have more healthy options to choose from and more time to savor every bite.
Pack Healthy Snacks
Keeping a stash of healthy snacks is essential to keeping your belly satisfied and your mind distracted from bad eating habits. Diabetes.org has some great nutritious snack recipes, such as coconut curry trail mix, zucchini date muffins, and garbanzo bean salad.
Here are some easy snack ideas that don’t require any cooking…maybe just a small cooler to store them in.
- Baby carrots and hummus
- Yogurt and berries
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Fresh fruit
- Almonds and walnuts
Visit Local Farmers Markets
One of the most fun ways to eat healthy while traveling is to stop by local farmers markets in the cities and towns you visit. This is a great way to shop like the residents do and make a sightseeing event out of eating well and supporting local farmers .
Supplement with Fruit & Veggie Capsules
If you’ve tried to eat healthy on the road in the past and rarely succeed, consider taking a different approach this summer. All-natural and 100% pure vegetable and fruit capsules provide convenient and affordable nutrition on the go.
Our broccoli capsules actually have 20 times the concentration of the original raw plant, and one 250 mg. capsule is the equivalent of 5 grams of raw broccoli!
Other nutritious supplements to pack for your trip are Lycopene-15 (each capsule contains the equivalent of one whole tomato) and Pomegranate 500 mg (which contains lots of antioxidants and free-radical fighting compounds).
Choose Accommodations with Kitchenettes
If you’re planning to stay in hotels during your vacation, try to pick suites or extended stay accommodations that offer small kitchenettes. If you have access to even just a couple stove burners, some pans, and utensils, you’ll be more likely to cook meals in your room rather than eating out for every meal.
Try to limit meal splurging to just once per day while on vacation, and whatever you do, stay away from buffets!
Grill Out at the Campsite
Lots of summer vacations involve camping, and outdoor grilling by your tent or RV can be a fun and healthy way to eat. Check out Health magazine’s campfire recipes for a little inspiration.
Drink Lots of Water
Regardless of what you’re eating on your vacation, make sure you’re drinking lots of water every day. Especially during long trips and activities that break from your usual routine, your body needs to stay extra-hydrated. Water aids digestion and helps you to feel full even when tempting treats are all around you.
Explore on Foot or Bike
There’s only so much you can see and do from inside your car or when using public transportation to get around. Use your vacation as an excuse to get active and walk or bike around to see the sights and reach your destinations. If you build healthy fitness habits while traveling, you may even be inspired to keep them up when you get back home!