August is a prime time for family vacations that get you out of the house for a much needed trip. Does your break come at the cost of breaking your diet? Eating well while away from home is obviously a challenge but one you can overcome with a few simple tips!
Taking a Break
In these beautifully warm days, when there isn’t a cloud in the sky and the sun seems to beckon you outside to enjoy the fading days of summer, many people may choose to pack their bags and hit the road for a vacation. Leaving the house (and your job!) provides a much needed respite from the daily routines that can start to feel more like ruts that we are stuck in than exciting tasks. Taking a vacation is important to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate yourself. Not to mention the health benefits of soaking up some Vitamin D! However, when packing your bags and deciding what to leave behind, your diet should definitely not be left at home. Taking a vacation from work does not mean taking a vacation from the healthy habits you have worked so hard to achieve over the summer. One of the key elements of any healthy diet at home is meal planning and the ability to prepare your own menu each day, something that becomes harder when on the road. So what are some away-from-home tips for maintaining your healthy diet choices?
Bring Your Own Snacks
One of the easiest healthy choices you can make takes place even before you leave the house. At home, you can stock your pantry with healthy snack choices – why not bring these on the road with you? When hunger strikes mid-travel, snacking and meal options can be limited. Say no to overpriced candy and snacks from convenience stores and airports! You will save time and money by bringing your own granola bars on the road for a quick and easy snack. If you have space to bring a small cooler, some unsweetened yogurt is sure to hit the spot after travelling in the summer heat. Don’t forget to include some fresh fruits, especially now as apples, pears, and peaches all come into season. With all these healthy options, you won’t even want to stop for meals! But what to do when mealtime rolls around and you don’t have the options of your kitchen at your disposal?
Minimize Portions
When on vacation, you’ll surely be eating at a few restaurants along the way, from fast food to sit down dining. Wherever you go, one thing is for sure: restaurants are infamous for serving overly large portion sizes for almost any menu item. Who needs a burger so large you can’t fit your mouth around the whole thing! Eating out may be inevitable on vacation, but that doesn’t mean you have to play by the rules of restaurants. Portion control is entirely in your hands, and it is important to regulate how much food you take in at each meal, even if what you are eating is part of your diet plan. At many restaurants, you can ask for a lunch sized portion with your dinner order, or if that option is unavailable you can always ask for a box to take home what you don’t eat for another meal. That way you can be sure to get your money’s worth, and you get to enjoy your order twice! If your friends or family want to get in on your order as well, don’t be afraid to split two dishes among three people – you’ll find that there is more than enough food for everyone.
Avoid Extras
When eating at a restaurant, the options can sometimes feel overwhelming. Your meal can come with one of six different sauces, or includes a few dessert items and a large drink? Just say no! Saying no to extra meal items is one of the simplest ways to avoid overeating at a restaurant. At the end of the day, restaurants are trying to sell you their food, so it makes sense that they will do whatever they can do to add more to your meal, for the cost of a pretty penny on your end. Skipping the sauces will remove unwanted sodium, sugar, and fats from your meal, which might be otherwise very healthy. Ordering a salad is a great idea until the chefs start drowning your lovely lettuce in fatty dressings. Why not replace unwanted extras with local fruits and vegetables to give you a delicious taste of local flavors? Vacation is a time to enjoy the delights of somewhere new, so don’t limit yourself to the same old tastes of home. Challenge yourself to try healthy, local options that will leave you feeling healthier, happier, and more able to enjoy each precious day of vacation!
