Eating Healthy While on Vacation

Editor’s Note: Summer is here, and that means vacations! Guest author, Cole Millen, has some solid tips for you on how to stay on track… so heed his wisdom and check out his blog, Cole’s Mill, when you get a chance for more of his musings on travel and food!

The entire point of a vacation is to interrupt the daily grind of life and hit a “reset” button.  Things like eating healthy and exercise are just two of them, but it’s so easy to let them slide.  It is, after all, a vacation.  Time to cast aside all the worries of daily life.  Eventually, all good things (including vacations) must come to an end, and it will be a rude awakening if certain habits like exercise and healthy eating have not been kept up.

If you are traveling by air, eat a healthy meal before you get to the airport. This will minimize the likelihood of you raiding the vending machines and snack shops for cookies, chips and other fatty items. Also, stash a few healthy snacks like raisins, nuts and sunflower seeds in a plastic baggie and put them in your pocket just in case you get hungry while you are waiting for your flight. The airport can be a very difficult place to find healthy food. Make sure to look for grilled chickens and salads whenever possible.

If you are traveling by car, pack a cooler full of your favorite health foods. This will keep you from swinging by fast food joints and ordering greasy burgers and fries. Turkey on whole wheat, low fat yogurt, water, carrot sticks and boiled eggs are nutritious options you might consider packing. Also, avoiding fast food places at all costs is very important. Even the salads that you order from fast food joints are processed and not good for you.

To find a health-friendly hotel, do your homework. Search online in the area around the hotel for health-friendly restaurants and other options.  It is also possible to find out in advance if a hotel has a continental breakfast included.  This is usually a healthier option than fast food or a large restaurant breakfast.  It usually includes fruit or cereal, both of which are healthy options for breakfast. Often times determining these things beforehand can be difficult. I have found a little due diligence goes a long way in this regard. I recently traveled to Sin City and found a great site that listed reviews for each of the Las Vegas hotels regarding their amenities and services. This made it easy to determine which hotel had exactly what I needed. I then realized that the site offered reviews regarding restaurants in the area as well. This made it easier than ever to eat healthy both in and out of the hotel.

One way to eat healthier while on vacation is to look at restaurant menus online and make a reservation before heading out.  Not only will this give you an idea of price, which will help with trip budgeting, but picking a restaurant will help you eat healthier.  Look for words like “roasted,” “baked,” or “grilled,” instead of “fried,” or “breaded.” When in doubt, order more color.  Foods that are more colorful are more likely to be nutritious, higher in fiber, and more flavorful.  Making a reservation ahead of time will also cut down on wait times, and who wants to spend their precious vacation waiting on a table?

Eating one treat a day is another way to have a healthier vacation without feeling deprived.  Instead of forcing yourself to survive your vacation on celery and carrot sticks alone, try a local treat every day.  Limiting it to one a day will keep it exciting, and keeping it local will add an exotic flair to your travels.  Even if it’s just around the corner, try something locally made or sourced.  It will add a whole new connection to the location.

It is possible to make healthy choices while vacationing and not feel deprived.  Choosing the right hotel, eating healthy in restaurants, and limiting your treats to one a day are only a few approaches.  Above all, the key is to choose the way that works for you and to enjoy your vacation!

– Cole Millen

About the Author: 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.