Monday, August 22, 2011

5 tips for when you're on the go

I'm back.  Sorry for my absence last week but I was on vacation with my husband and his family.  We had a relaxing week full of sunny weather and good company!

Being on vacation was great, but it did remind me of the challenges of staying healthy while away from home.  Eating healthfully and sticking to your exercise routine on a daily basis is tough enough, but it becomes even harder when you're traveling.

Planning ahead can help alleviate some of the stress regarding your food and exercise choices.

Here are 5 tips to help you stay in shape and eating well when you're away from home:

1.  When traveling, eat before you leave whenever possible.  Even if you're lucky enough to find a place along the way that serves healthy or somewhat healthy food, there are usually so many other tempting options that it can be difficult to make the right choice.  If you eat before you leave your house, you won't need to think about food for a few hours.

2.  Pack healthy snacks and bring them with you.  I recommend buying a small cooler bag and some ice packs.  This will allow you to pack all kinds of healthy snacks including chopped vegetables, fresh fruit, hummus, green smoothies/juices and water.  These are all items that are easy to pack and easy to eat on the go.  Granola bars and nuts are also great snacks that don't require any refridgeration.

3.  There are several websites that can help you locate healthy food options in almost any location.  I like http://www.eatwellguide.org/.  Eat Well Guide® is a free online directory for anyone in search of fresh, locally grown and sustainably produced food in the United States and Canada.  Just enter the zip code of the city where you will be traveling and it lists local restaurants, stores, farmer's markets, CSA's, etc...  This is a great resource to use when you reach your final destination.  But, if you're driving, with a little advanced planning, you can also look up healthy food options at points along the way where you can stop to eat.  This will help you avoid making poor food choices out of convenience.

4.  Travel in your workout clothes (if appropriate).  If you have an early flight or are heading out early for a road trip and don't have time to get your workout in before you leave, travel in your workout clothes.  Not only will you be comfortable, but if you're already dressed for a workout, it will be that much easier to make the decision to workout upon arrival.

5.  If you don't have access to a fully equipped gym (once you arrive or along the way), you can usually at least find somewhere to run/walk outside.  If this isn't an option, you can perform Meg's 5 simple and effective exercises pretty much anywhere!

Wishing you happy and healthy travels!


1 comment:

  1. great tips! i was happy to experience your healthy travel snacks this summer!

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