A vacation is a time to unwind, celebrate, rejuvenate, see new places and try new things. But it can also make you very uneasy about eating — if, for example, you are trying to eat healthy and maintain or lose weight. Here are a few simple ways to help you stay on a healthy eating plan while on vacation and still enjoy yourself.
Have it your way at restaurants - These days it is not uncommon for customers to ask for menu items prepared or dressed a different way than is listed on the menu. You can also request smaller portion sizes and ask to have part of your meal “doggy-bagged.”
Walk as much as you can - Sightseeing on foot can offset any extra calories you might consume. Take a stroll after dinner, swim in that hotel pool, or take an early morning hike.
Treat yourself once a day - How do you pass up strawberry crepes with cream if you are in Paris? How do you manage to vacation in Hawaii without tasting pineapple cheesecake? How can you resist stopping at Dairy Queen with the kids and having a chocolate-dipped Frosty? The answer is: you don’t. Just try to keep your treats to one a day. After that, opt for a healthy choice instead.
Drink plenty of water - Keep all systems going by drinking your daily water requirement. Traveling can dehydrate you, and so can being out in the sun more than your body is used to. If you can, stock your car, backpack, or hotel room with ice-cold bottles of water. Bring water everywhere you go.
Try to eat more fruits and veggies - Now, more than ever, make an effort to get five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. It will make meals seem more filling and satisfying. It will provide enough fiber in your diet, and keep your intestines regular. And it will keep your levels of antioxidants and important vitamins high so you are less likely to get sick.
Click the play button below to listen to an interview with pharmacist John Abdelmalek, Rph, who talks with Ask a Pharmacist host Shalena Putnam about ways to stay on your diet while on vacation.
