Whole Body Wellness

Simple Steps to Stay Healthy While on Vacation

Do you have a vacation planned this summer? I certainly hope you do! If you’re like one of my clients, you might be concerned about your ability to eat well and stay active while you’re away.

My goal for you is to have a wonderful vacation, during which you feel vibrant and healthy. If I completely let my wellness routine go while on vacation, I end up having low-energy, my clothes get tighter, and I simply don’t feel good in my body. This affects my ability to thoroughly enjoy my vacation. In an effort to help you avoid this, I have some strategies that I have developed that work well for me.

1. Stay active
Find fun ways to stay active on your vacation. This likely won’t mean going to a gym, though that’s always a possibility. Here are some ideas:

• Find a beautiful spot to go for a walk or a jog
• Hike
• Rent bikes (or take yours along if possible)
• Go kayaking or canoeing
• Swim

The trick is to weave these activities into your days away so you’re having fun and getting movement and exercise at the same time.

2. Bring food for the plane or car
Unfortunately the food options at the airport and on the road are usually not very healthy (or tasty in my opinion). Plan ahead and pack foods you enjoy in a small cooler or insulated lunch bag. Some ideas of what to pack include:

• Sandwiches (wraps are easy to eat when you’re traveling)
• Salad
• Hummus or other dip and vegetables
• Cut up fruit or grapes
• Trail mix
• Yogurt
• Brown rice crackers or Kashi’s TLC crackers

3. Allow yourself treats in moderation
I believe that food is one of life’s pleasures, and for me, vacation is a time to enjoy treats I don’t usually eat. If I try depriving myself on vacation I get grumpy and the whole thing backfires. What I have found to work well is to allow myself treats, but to limit it to one per day and really savor it. In the summer, ice cream is usually my treat of choice :).

4. Find a grocery store and buy some staples
Whether you’re staying at a hotel or somewhere with a kitchen, take a trip to the closest grocery store and buy food for snacks – or even some of your meals. At many hotels you can request a small refrigerator for your room. Things you might want to pick up include:

• Cereal and milk
• Fruit (especially those that don't require a knife such as grapes, berries, apples, bananas, and oranges)
• Whole grain bread and peanut butter or almond butter
• Baby carrots and hummus
• Yogurt
• Trail mix
• Cheese and whole grain crackers

5. Have one “splurge” meal per day
This tip is similar to #3, but relates to your meals. When you go on vacation, do you tend to go completely off your normal eating routine? If so, think about keeping two of your meals similar to what you’d have at home. Then pick one meal for more of a splurge. You can vary the meal depending on the day. This will keep you feeling healthy and grounded, while be able to enjoy some special meals.

6. Focus on the fun and relaxation
Do you sometimes find you put a lot of emphasis on food to provide fun and entertainment? During your next vacation, try to focus on the pleasure and relaxation you get from the surroundings, the people you’re with, doing things you enjoy, and slowing down.