Eating Healthy on Vacation ~ Guest Post

Eating Healthy on Vacation

Believe it or not, it is quite easy to eat very healthy while vacationing. The common assumption that most people make is that they will end up splurging on all fatty and sugary foods while on vacation. Nonetheless, if you are seriously concerned about eating healthy while away from home and don't want to come back with extra pounds added to your midsection - here are a few tips to avoid weight gain while on vacation.

Drink Plenty of Water

Staying hydrated during the course of your vacation will be beneficial to ensure that you do not come back home with water weight gain. Excessive starchy carbohydrate consumption and not drinking water is a recipe for gaining five to ten pounds while away just for a few days. Carry a water thermos or a water bottle with you everywhere you go to ensure you are drinking at least half a gallon of water. It is also very smart to ensure that you have healthy snacks with you to allow yourself to indulge when you get hungry. This will prevent you from grabbing the closest thing that can often be unhealthy.

Finding the Right Hotel

One of the most important aspects of your travels is to ensure that you are staying in a hotel that will allow you to maintain your healthy lifestyle while you are away from home. After all, you are living there for the time being. It is important to make sure that hotel you choose has the appropriate amenities and offerings. This can often be extremely difficult. I have found that reviews from other travelers provide the most honest and unbiased form of information. I most recently took a trip out west and found a great site that listed reviews for Las Vegas hotels regarding all aspects necessary from their amenities, to the restaurants in the area, even to things to do. This made it possible to ensure that I was eating right while in and out of my hotel.

Research local restaurants

With the power of the Internet, it should be very easy to do a quick scan of restaurants that are in the destination that you plan on visiting. Make a list of the favorite foods or dishes you would like to eat and from there research the healthiest restaurants serving that type of food. The common mistake that most people make while on vacation is not knowing what healthy food options are readily available near their hotel. Many restaurants have an online presence now. You can easily download menus, look at online menus and even better - possibly get coupons from sites like groupon.com and livingsocial.com.

Avoid Starches

Probably the easiest way to stay lean while on vacation is to avoid consuming too many starches and sugary foods. It is very easy to still eat good, wholesome and filling meals without sacrificing satiety. Simply eat tons of well-seasoned meats, vegetables and low glycemic fruits such as berries, apples and cherries. If you are going to eat starches, stick with complex carbohydrates such as steel cut oatmeal, whole grain toast, and brown rice and whole grain pasta. It is still recommended to only eat whole grain carbs once to twice a day while on vacation.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

Simply limiting your alcohol consumption to one to two drinks a day while away won't do much damage. However, people have a tendency to "party hard" while away and often end up regretting this. Alcohol is filled with sugar, which can lead to fat gain. Alcohol also dehydrates the body, which in turn will make you more prone to gaining water weight while away from home. Stick with light beers and dry red wines if you are going to drink. 

~Cole Millen