While many people are going to travel to visit family during the upcoming holidays, there are others who will take a vacation or go on an explorative adventure. Whether you are going to be walking the streets of a South American town or bundling up in the cold at a family celebration, there are ways that you can stay healthy while you travel.
What does it mean to be healthy while you travel? A lot of people will make the argument that going on vacation is about letting go and falling off the wagon. While vacation is a time to let go of things, it isn’t a time to let yourself go. This mentality leads to weight gain or unhealthy habits that you can bring back to your regularly lifestyle. We agree that is important to indulge on occasion during a vacation, but we also believe it’s imperative to stay healthy while traveling. Check out the following tips to keep you healthy on your upcoming travels.
Hydrate, Hydrate, And Hydrate
Water is the foundation of your livelihood, so make sure that you have a water bottle with you at all times while traveling. There are many great reusable water bottles to carry around, and having it on you helps you stay sufficiently hydrated. If you are going to be in colder climates, use these reusable canteens to keep hot herbal tea in throughout the day.
Cut The Meat & Order Veggies
You will most likely be dining out while you are traveling, so try to pick healthier options when you eat out. Order a vegetarian dish or add a vegetable side to balance out your meal. You can also buy your own veggies to snack on throughout the day. When you dine out, explore the local cuisine for the freshest food instead of eating at familiar places. This brings us to our next point.
Look For Veggies
Whether you’re visiting family in the States or exploring an exotic country in the Southeast Asia, there are seasonal and local produce items that you can try. Look for farmers markets or produce stands and try different seasonal produce, rather than eating unhealthy snacks. It can be fun to visit small markets where the locals shop, so seek them out and eat healthy snacks throughout the day.
Stay Active
There are different types of travelers. Some like to lounge about, while others like to be mobile and see everything that there is to see. We encourage you to explore your travel destination by foot as much as possible. You’ll get exercise and stumble on unique finds that you may have missed otherwise. If you are traveling home for Thanksgiving, for instance, do family activities or keep up your exercise ritual. You can always do easy at-home workouts!
Eat Until You’re 80% Full
Americans typically overeat because portion sizes exceed the recommend portion to keep you healthy. How do you know when you are 80% full, though? This can be hard, but try to avoid overeating. You can split your meals or eat smaller portions more frequently throughout the day. This is great advice for holiday parties or family holiday gatherings. Try to avoid busting out the “fat pants” and just eat until you are content, as opposed to stuffing food in your mouth until you hate yourself.
Sleep
We can’t tell you how important sleep is. It’s important whether or not you are traveling. When you are crossing time zones, you need to allow your body time to rest. If you are spending the day seeing different sights, take time to sit during the day and enjoy some resting time. Try to get at least seven or eight hours of sleep every night. You need that much sleep and more when visiting family because family can stress you out. Get some rest or practice easy breathing exercises; or do both!
Cut Down On Liquid Calories
This applies to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Keep your liquid calorie and sugar intake low because it can disrupt your sleep and contribute to weight gain. We want you to enjoy yourself on vacation, but just remember to consume in moderation. Take into account what you have eaten that day and base it on that. You are allowed to reward yourself, but do so responsibly and healthily.
