Travel Tips for a Healthy Vacation
Traveling for the summer months can mean getting thrown off of our regular routine. Maintaining a consistent exercise and clean eating regimen can be a challenge at times, and traveling out of town can make staying on track that much more difficult.
Vacation often means indulging more than usual in less-than-healthy food and beverage choices, as well as a more relaxed approach to maintaining a structured workout schedule. While traveling for pleasure should be just that- pleasurable- this does not have to mean packing on the customary travel bloat often associated with a fun getaway.
So how do you strike the balance between relaxation and maintenance of your healthy habits? Here are some travel tips for enjoying yourself without losing sight of your fitness and health goals!
Plan ahead: Remember that a failure to plan is a plan to fail; stack the deck in your favor by preparing healthy snack options ahead of time so that you are not left at the mercy of whatever unhealthy junk is on offer at the airport or drive-thru window. If you are traveling by air, pack portable snacks such as individually packaged raw nuts, tangerines, bananas, and apples. When looking for snack foods, stay away from packaged items such as protein bars and trail mix, as these can often be packed with sugars and chemical ingredients; opt instead for whole fruits with tons of fiber, and nuts for protein which will leave you feeling fuller, longer. If you are planning a road trip for your summer fun, you can get a touch more creative with your food options. Pack a cooler full of ice and load up on ready-to-eat sliced fruits, healthy chicken or turkey wraps, and even salads!
Look for the local gyms/fitness studios to get in some workouts: When researching your travel destination, explore the local gyms and fitness studios in the area. Most fitness centers have drop-in rates for non-members who are visiting from out of town, and these rates can range from $10-$30 for use of the gym facility. A fun way to stay on track with your fitness is to find a local gym and drop in to a group class- vacations are all about trying new things, so don’t be afraid to explore a new class format while out of town!
Get in plenty of walking: Most travel destinations offer plenty of walkable neighborhoods, and many of the central tourist spots are made for foot traffic. Instead of relying on cabs or tour busses, lace up your walking shoes and make your own path through your vacation destination- walking is also a great way to stumble upon hidden gems in any city!
Eat raw: Once you have arrived at your destination you will likely be eating out for most meals. This does not have to mean indulging in less-than-healthy food choices every time you sit down for a meal- you can still keep it clean when ordering out! Make it a priority to get in some raw fruits and veggies with every meal; this could mean ordering a side salad instead of fries, or grabbing a green juice instead of a heavy lunch. Remember that eating clean is all about adding the healthy stuff in- not just restricting your intake of so-called “bad” foods- so load up on the fruits and veggies first!
Get in those greens!
Avoid sugary drinks: For some, vacations can be an excuse to overindulge in the alcohol department- it is, after all, a vacation, right?! However, consuming sugary mixed drinks is just drinking extra, empty calories. My go-to vacation beverage is a chilled tequila shot (which I sip, I don’t do shots…) with fresh squeezed lime juice and soda water. Trust me, if you drink alcohol, switching to a lower-sugar index beverage lie tequila will provide the same effect, with fewer calories.
Whether you hit the road or plan on taking a fun stay-cation this summer, you can still relax and let go while staying focused on your goals. Vacations are all about taking the time to appreciate the good things in life, and your health is one of them! So get out there and enjoy yourself- and feel great doing it!
About the author:
As an independent health and fitness coach, Vera has worked with over 200 individuals and several corporations to implement strategies to create sustainable health-positive behavior modifications. Through earning a Master of Public Health degree and becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®), Vera is uniquely prepared to help clients work towards their health goals.
As a small business owner operating a health and fitness coaching practice for over 6 years, Vera has been educating clients on all aspects of creating and maintaining healthy lifestyle behavior modifications. As a qualified and highly educated health coach Vera is an effective agent of change, helping clients to create sustainable, lasting lifestyle modifications.