Nutrition Hotline
Question: I'm committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but vacations can be difficult. What do you advise for people who love to travel?
Answer: When many people head out on vacation, they leave all of their cares behind, including their diet and exercise routines. "I’m on vacation — I’m going to live it up. It’s only a week (or two). I’ll make it up when I get home."
The trouble starts when vacations (and holidays as well as long weekends away) come more often than once a year. When you break from your usual healthful routine, it can be a rough re-entry when you arrive home. Many people find it hard to get back into the routine once they’ve gotten off track.
There are many ways to put a healthful "spin" on your vacation plans. If you travel regularly, consider paying attention to two key factors: your physical activity level and, of course, the food you eat.
Plan a trip that incorporates lots of physical activity. Staying vigorously physically active will help you burn off the extra calories you may be consuming at restaurants and will help keep your muscles conditioned if you’re used to working out back home. You’ll sleep better, too. There are lots of choices — the following are just a few:
Walk, walk, walk — go hiking in a national forest or along a nature trail; walk along the beach; visit "walking cities" such as Prague in Europe or Charleston, South Carolina. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes and a backpack.
Ride a bike — around Mackinaw Island in Northern Michigan, along country roads, or through a picturesque small town. Many destinations rent bicycles to tourists if you don’t want to bring your own from home.
Go skiing — head to the slopes if you’re a downhill skier, but try cross-country skiing if you really want a workout. Cross-country skiing is actually a great choice for people who prefer an easy-going pace away from the crowds and chair-lift lines. Rentals are inexpensive; inquire at state parks and other recreational areas.
Take a daily swim — choose a motel with a lap pool and use it. Bring a bathing suit that means business and plan to get your hair wet at the beach. Get an hour of swimming in each day.
Use hotel gyms — go ahead and use the stairclimber, treadmill, and weight machines. However, you may find it more enjoyable to take a break from your usual routine by doing something different for exercise while you’re on vacation.
Eat well — when it comes to meals, emphasize fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of water, too — especially if it’s hot outside. Aim for at least two pieces of fresh fruit daily. Choose fresh green salads at restaurants. If you eat plenty of fresh foods, you’ll minimize the junk and displace fattier, more processed foods.
Stop at farmer’s markets or roadside stands. Keep fresh produce in the car or in your backpack or bike pack.
Stay at motels with kitchenettes in the rooms. Enjoy a meal out at a restaurant each day if you’d like, but keep fresh fruits and juices, some whole grain breads, crackers, and breakfast cereals, soymilk, and salad greens on hand. Fix pasta or a stir-fry and eat in at least once a day.
Refer to the Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Veggie Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada for restaurants serving healthful foods in the cities you may be visiting. See: https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php It’s not hard to plan a vacation that incorporates healthful features into the fun. The bonus is that you’ll feel as good when you get home as you did before you left.
