It has happened to the best of us, you are doing great at eating healthy and then you go away on a trip and everything changes. When traveling things are stressful and fast paced that many often put their healthy eating habits on the back burner. Traveling by air or car poses difficulties because healthy options are often scarce. However, eating healthy does not have to be a challenge if you follow some simple tips and use your creativity.
The Airport
The airport environment in itself is very stressful and can cause bad effects on your healthy eating habits because to help reduce stress many people give into their cravings of high calorie foods. It also doesn’t help that there are fast food restaurants at every corner that can lead into temptation.
Tips to eat healthy: Try to avoid large portions and beverages that are high in calories. Water is the best bet to keep hydrated and avoid those extra calories. At restaurants, selecting sandwiches that are served on whole grain bread without added condiments is a good choice. For snacks, choose stands that offer healthy options such as peanuts and dried fruit. Make sure to avoid options that are coated in sugar.
On the Road
Driving hundreds or even thousands of miles can result in boredom and this often leads to careless eating habits. After driving for many hours, many people often stop at rest stops and opt for junk food.
Tips to eat healthy: Pack a bag or cooler full of healthy options so you are not swayed to choose high-calorie or processed foods at rest stops and restaurants. There are a wide variety of healthy easy foods for traveling such as cheese sticks, apples, carrots, yogurt, nuts, and sandwiches. When stocking up at gas stations or small food marts choose options such as protein bars, bottled water, nuts, and whole grain crackers. If fast food is the only option, try to avoid items that full of sugar and fried. Some fast food establishments offer more healthy options such as yogurt, low-fat milk, and salads.
The Hotel
Hotels offer a variety of amenities such as the breakfast buffet. While breakfast is an essential meal, most of the buffets offer a variety of high calorie options such as bagels, waffles, and sugary cereals.
Tips to eat healthy: Walk past the sugary cereals and waffles and seek healthy carb options such as oatmeal or whole-wheat bagels. Also opt for fresh fruit such as apples and bananas and a healthy beverage like low fat milk. Avoiding sugar and selecting better options will help you stay more alert and make your traveling more enjoyable.
Eating healthy while traveling can be a challenge, but by taking time to carefully choose your meal options, you can still eat healthy despite the hustle and bustle.