STLMoms: Healthy Eating on Vacation

(STLMoms) – Have you been vacationing with your family this summer or have a getaway coming up? It can be tough to eat healthy while on vacation, so we asked registered dietitian and Academy of Nutrition spokesperson Jen McDaniel for some help.

Take a look at tips from Jen:
Road Trip:
1) Pack it up: rely on homemade sandwiches, cut up fruits and vegetables, yogurts, etc to fuel your road trip; gas stations are for fueling your car, not your kids!
2) Plan ahead: there are 2 websites that are very helpful when traveling on the road: a) healthy dining finder and b) calorie king – I will tell you how they work

Exercise:
1) Pack your sneakers: on road trips, find some areas in which you can get out and hike a trail, or visit a park. Breaking up a long road trip with activity can be a fun way to enjoy your “journey” while also getting in some activity
While on vacation, find ways to walk more. Leave the car behind and walk or bike to destinations if possible.

Treats:
Limit the amount of high calories treats such as an ice cream sundae or donut to once a day or once every other day. Treats throughout the day not only fill you up with lots of calories, but don’t leave you hungry for healthier foods

Groceries:
Try to find a place to stay which has a mini kitchen with a refrigerator and microwave.  You might pay a little more for your room, but you will save lots in both calories and money by eating at “home” and not eating out at restaurants 3x a day.  When we go on vacations, we would try and eat out only one meal a day.