Eating Well While Traveling
By: Faith Wright, Travel Advisors
Vacations are a time to relax, reset and just have some fun! Feel your best while traveling by making smart eating and drinking decisions. How?
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Whether you are in the sand or snow or in between some grape vines, water is a must. While we all want to reach for another pina colada, too much alcohol and sugary drinks such as juice, soda and energy drinks can make you feel zapped, which is the last thing you want on vacation! Aim for drinking water when you first wake up with your morning coffee, at meals alongside your soda, with your afternoon snack and glass of Pinot, and right before you turn in for the night. Reaching for water and working it into your meal times will keep you alert, feeling fresh and ready to take in all your adventure has to offer!
Practical Practices:
-Keep bottled water in the hotel room for easy access and to take along with you
-Order water at places like Starbucks to drink alongside your other beverage
-Remember - If you are already thirsty, you may already be dehydrated
Choose fresh
Walking past the specialty candy shop or driving by a convenience store along the way, it is tempting to stop and recharge with something salty or sweet. But beware! Snacks heavy with sodium, fat and sugar can leave you feeling up then right back down again. Heavy meals of processed meats and carbs can leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable. Choose fresh whenever possible for meals and snacks to fuel up and keep your adventure going strong!
Practical Practices:
-First look at the salad/sandwiches section of menus as these meals tend to have fresher, whole food ingredients
-Choose/bring snacks with real food in them such as trail mix, fruit, granola bars and yogurt
-Take a moment to consider how the food you eat will make you feel when you are finished
Be purposeful
We all hit an afternoon loll or wind up with a few bored moments even when we’re on vacation! Instead of reaching for something to eat to fill the time, consider having games on hand to play, conversation starters ready to talk about and time built in for a rest when
needed. There is no shame in recharging and resetting! When you find it’s time to reach for a snack, be purposeful. Consider how much of a “snack” you are having and what types of foods/drinks you are consuming. Just giving yourself a moment to pause and process what food choices you’re making can help save you some calories, energy and time for more adventures!
Practical Practices:
-Chew on gum if you find yourself guilty of “boredom eating”
-If your snack involves multiple products and/or can fit on a dinner plate, this may be a meal instead of a small pick-me-up
-Consider establishing a morning and afternoon snack rather than snacking throughout the day/night
Have fun
Bottom line - You are on vacation! Your trip is a time to have fun and make memories. Eat those treats, drink those cocktails and enjoy a hearty meal that adds, not takes away, to your adventure!
Practical Practices:
-Consider what drink/meal/experience really captures the location and feel of your travels and order that
-Balance is key
-Enjoy what your destination has to offer past the specialty candy shop or driving by a convenience store along the way, it is tempting to stop and recharge with something salty or sweet. But beware! Snacks heavy with sodium, fat and sugar can leave you feeling up then right back down again. Heavy meals of processed meats and carbs can leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable. Choose fresh whenever possible for meals and snacks to fuel up and keep your adventure going strong!
