Healthy Vacations: In Flight & Around Town

While we all look forward to much needed travel time, some also worry about returning with unwanted souvenir pounds. If this sounds like you, you should know that a healthy vacation doesn't have to be boring or grueling. In fact, it's just the opposite: Making a few healthy choices and folding some physical activity into your trip can help you get more fun out of your time by giving you the energy you need to get through a day packed with activity and excitement. Planning to lay around on the beach all day? Tweaking your food choices and getting your body moving may help you feel more comfortable & confident in your swimsuit. Building on my June 9 post on healthy road trips, Hit the Road...& Have Your Cake Too!, I'm back from my own recent trip with tips for staying healthy while having a blast on vacation:


In the Air

• Fuel up to fly.
Get in a good healthy meal before your flight so you're not tempted to make bad choices at the terminal or on the plane. Aim to include lean protein, healthy fats and fiber to keep you full and satisfied on your flight. Skip anything that tends to upset your stomach.

• Make good choices at the terminal.
Save your splurge for when you make it your destination. For now, try to avoid fried foods, refined ("white") grains, and sugary drinks and snacks.

• Come prepared.
Bring healthy plane snacks like nuts, whole grain crackers and cereal, fruit, dark chocolate, sandwiches (turkey, chicken, cheese or avocado on whole grain bread and loaded with veggies...peanut butter and sliced fruit sandwiches work too).

• Stay hydrated.
Make sure to drink plenty of water and stretch your legs every now and then to fend off dehydration and blood clots (particularly on long flights).

• Don't be shy.
 While waiting to board your plane, feel free to bust out a yoga pose at the gate.

In Your Room

• Do as the locals do.
No matter where you are staying you can stop at a grocery store to stock up on healthy snacks to keep in your room.

• Take advantage of hotel breakfast.
Start your day right with fruit, eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, whole grain dry cereals or whole wheat toast. Take the opportunity to test drive vegetarianism when your B&B asks for your dietary restrictions.

• Pull out the portable workout.
Great podcast (like these from Yoga to the People) & video (like these from Yoga Journal) workouts are available for download to your iPod or to play right on your laptop.

• Use your hotel gym.
Some hotels also offer exercise equipment to use in your room.

Around Town

• Visit the farmers' market.
You can pack a picnic from your fresh farm finds.

• Stash snacks in your bag.
 Bring along some of those groceries and plane snacks.

• Pick a splurge day.
If you can't handle having just one splurge day, try having just one splurge meal per day and make good choices at the rest of your meals.

• Take a tour, lesson or do-it-yourself activity.
Hike, walk, bike, skate, horseback ride, swim, surf,  climb, rollerblade, kayak, etc.

• Find free workouts.
Check out the local newspapers or your destination city's latest Time Out issue to find out where to join an outdoor yoga or bootcamp class for free.

Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net / africa

While we all look forward to much needed travel time, some also worry about returning with unwanted souvenir pounds. If this sounds like you, you should know that a healthy vacation doesn't have to be boring or grueling. In fact, it's just the opposite: Making a few healthy choices and folding some physical activity into your trip can help you get more fun out of your time by giving you the energy you need to get through a day packed with activity and excitement. Planning to lay around on the beach all day? Tweaking your food choices and getting your body moving may help you feel more comfortable & confident in your swimsuit. Building on my June 9 post on healthy road trips, Hit the Road...& Have Your Cake Too!, I'm back from my own recent trip with tips for staying healthy while having a blast on vacation:


In the Air

• Fuel up to fly.
Get in a good healthy meal before your flight so you're not tempted to make bad choices at the terminal or on the plane. Aim to include lean protein, healthy fats and fiber to keep you full and satisfied on your flight. Skip anything that tends to upset your stomach.

• Make good choices at the terminal.
Save your splurge for when you make it your destination. For now, try to avoid fried foods, refined ("white") grains, and sugary drinks and snacks.

• Come prepared.
Bring healthy plane snacks like nuts, whole grain crackers and cereal, fruit, dark chocolate, sandwiches (turkey, chicken, cheese or avocado on whole grain bread and loaded with veggies...peanut butter and sliced fruit sandwiches work too).

• Stay hydrated.
Make sure to drink plenty of water and stretch your legs every now and then to fend off dehydration and blood clots (particularly on long flights).

• Don't be shy.
 While waiting to board your plane, feel free to bust out a yoga pose at the gate.

In Your Room

• Do as the locals do.
No matter where you are staying you can stop at a grocery store to stock up on healthy snacks to keep in your room.

• Take advantage of hotel breakfast.
Start your day right with fruit, eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, whole grain dry cereals or whole wheat toast. Take the opportunity to test drive vegetarianism when your B&B asks for your dietary restrictions.

• Pull out the portable workout.
Great podcast (like these from Yoga to the People) & video (like these from Yoga Journal) workouts are available for download to your iPod or to play right on your laptop.

• Use your hotel gym.
Some hotels also offer exercise equipment to use in your room.

Around Town

• Visit the farmers' market.
You can pack a picnic from your fresh farm finds.

• Stash snacks in your bag.
 Bring along some of those groceries and plane snacks.

• Pick a splurge day.
If you can't handle having just one splurge day, try having just one splurge meal per day and make good choices at the rest of your meals.

• Take a tour, lesson or do-it-yourself activity.
Hike, walk, bike, skate, horseback ride, swim, surf,  climb, rollerblade, kayak, etc.

• Find free workouts.
Check out the local newspapers or your destination city's latest Time Out issue to find out where to join an outdoor yoga or bootcamp class for free.

Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net / africa