When you have been eating clean and working out regularly, going on a vacation can seem like a stressful prospect. After all, several studies have shown that people tend to gain weight on holiday. From dining out every night to drinking more than usual, many things can derail your progress when you are on holiday.
But who said you couldn’t stay healthy on vacation? In this post, we’re summarizing useful tips to keep up your health and fitness on your upcoming trip. Let’s dive in.
Buy Healthy Snacks
Instead of sitting by the pool and munching on fries, you should stock up on healthy snacks for afternoon cravings. You can get roasted nuts, hummus, peanut butter, fruits, kale chips, dark chocolate, greek yogurt, and so on. It’s also a great idea to use meals and snack time to try local fruits and vegetables.
Prepare Your Meals
Even if you want to eat healthily, you can’t control the ingredients used in a restaurant. Fortunately, there is an easy solution. You should prepare your own meals! Instead of a conventional hotel room, explore vacation rentals that are equipped with a functional kitchen. With a kitchen at your disposal, you can easily make healthy meals and also save a lot of money.
Shop Locally
You may be tempted to buy instant noodles or microwaveable meals, but these options will be counterproductive. We urge you to head over to the local farmer’s markets and buy fresh and seasonal produce. Besides eating healthy, this is also a great way to support the local community.
Do Physical Activities
You may not have access to a gym, but don’t let that stop you from exercising. One of the best things about a vacation is the opportunity to try a wide variety of fun activities. You can go surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, biking, waterskiing, among other things if you are headed to a coastal town. Hiking is another excellent activity to get some fresh air.
Find Healthy Restaurants
Before you leave for the trip, it would be helpful to research restaurants serving healthy options in the area. This is particularly important if you are vegan, gluten-free or have any other dietary restrictions. A little bit of planning goes a long way.
Indulge Occasionally
Just because you want to be healthy on vacation doesn’t mean you shouldn’t occasionally indulge. You’re on vacation after all! So treat yourself to local delicacies. It’s all about balance. And if you’re in a rush and end up in fast food restaurant don’t despair and check out these healthy fast food options so you can make the best choices!
Limit Alcohol Consumption
Apart from food, people also tend to over consume alcohol on vacation. We encourage you to be mindful of your alcohol consumption. Try to limit yourself to one or two drinks every day.
Consider purchasing liquor and mixers to prepare drinks at your vacation rental. Apart from saving money, doing this will also help curb your drinking. After all, making a drink takes a lot more effort than ordering one.
Explore On Foot
Instead of taking a cab or public transportation, explore the city on foot. In addition to getting your steps in, walking around allows you to take a closer look at a destination’s culture and history.
Try Digital Detox
A healthy lifestyle doesn’t just concern your physical health, you should also think about your mental well-being. Is your body on vacation, but your mind is stuck on work? It would be best to step away from technology. A digital detox can do wonders for your mind and alleviate stress. Leave your smart devices behind and spend time in nature.
The Bottom Line
Take this time to unwind and relax! And don’t be too hard on yourself if you end up gaining a few pounds. Once you return, you can resume your usual fitness routine and get back in shape in no time.
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
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Meal preparation goes a long way in staying healthy while on vacation, especially since it reduces the likelihood of eating out more often than one should. Great insight shared here!
Really helpful tips and ideas that everyone can follow through to stay healthy. Thanks for it.