When you’re on vacation, you may feel like the last thing you want to do is eat healthily. When you’re planning a vacation, it may be centered around food in many ways.
For example, many all-inclusive have tempting buffets, there are attractions like dinner cruises in many cities around the world, and you may want to try the local flavor via markets and restaurants. Food is one of the best ways to learn about the local culture of any place you visit, even if you’re staying in the U.S.
There are ways to enjoy food and dine out within reason when you’re on vacation, however.
You don’t necessarily have to deprive yourself, but if you retain healthy eating habits on vacation, it can help you enjoy your trip more because you’re likely to feel better.
The following are some ways to eat healthy on vacation, including if you’re planning to dine out.
Plan Ahead
You want to relax on vacation and having a plan might not seem relaxing, but in reality, it is. Do the leg work to keep yourself on track with eating healthy before your trip, have a well-defined plan, and then you cannot think much about it while you’re on your actual trip.
A bonus of planning ahead in terms of healthy eating is that it may help you stay on budget as well.
If you’re going to be cooking a lot on your vacation, you can think about using seasonal and fresh ingredients that are popular where you’re going, which can be fun and help you try something new even while you’re eating healthy.
If you’re going to be dining out a lot, try to make reservations at your top picks ahead of time and then scour the menu before you leave. Write down some of the items that you think fit within your healthy eating goals but still sound like a treat. Then, you’re not left scrambling at the restaurant trying to find something that works for you.
Have Breakfast Every Day
The adage of not missing breakfast extends to vacation as well. First, many hotels will offer free breakfast options, so it’s good for saving money. Also, you can typically find healthy, versatile choices that will give you fuel for the day and keep you from getting so hungry that you crash, which can lead to a binge.
Berries, egg whites and egg white omelets, turkey bacon, and whole wheat toast are all good options that are available almost anywhere you might be eating breakfast.
Splurge At Lunch
If you do want to have some opportunities to splurge on vacation, which is natural, it’s best to do so at lunch. Then, you can burn those calories as you continue your day, and you can have a lighter, healthier dinner.
Additionally, be smart with your splurges. It’s okay to splurge but watch your portions.
If you’re going to have a cocktail, maybe avoid the fruity mixtures that have a lot of extra sugar and calories. Instead, go for simple drinks like wine or a liquor drink mixed with something like lime and club soda.
Eat Slowly
Whether you’re cooking in or dining out, make your vacation a time where you commit to eating slowly and savoring your meal. This will help you eat less and prevent the potential for over-indulging. You might not have the luxury of enjoying slow and leisurely meals at home, but you do on vacation so take advantage.
Bring Your Own Snacks
No matter where you’re going and even if you’re going to be dining out a lot, bringing your own snacks is something you should do if you’re prioritizing healthy eating on your vacation.
There are several reasons it’s smart to bring your own snacks. First, you don’t want to consume unnecessary calories from snacks at the airport, on the road or while you’re out and about. You want to splurge on things you’ll enjoy, such as a decadent plate of pasta. However, it’s tougher to find healthy snacks than meals in most cases, and you may be tempted to go for the less-than-healthy options unless you bring your own.
Additionally, you never want to let yourself get too hungry when you’re on vacation or otherwise. If you’re active on vacation, you’re going to be burning a lot of calories which can contribute to feeling more hungry as well. Snacks can help you keep your hunger at bay throughout the day so that when you do sit down at a meal, you don’t go overboard.
