Eating Healthily on the Road

By Donna Stark

You don't need to be a seasoned traveler to know that eating healthily while on the road is no easy feat. Most hotel rooms don't have a full-service kitchen, and even if they did, there aren't too many people who want to spend their vacation time navigating unfamiliar stores and spending hours each day shopping, prepping, chopping, and cooking their meals. So instead, many of us choose the convenience of eating out. And even though it takes the burden of cooking our meals off our shoulders, it can be a huge burden on our overall health while we are away. Don't let your healthy habits get derailed just because you are enjoying some time away from home.

Eating Healthily on the Road

If you are at the point where your entire diet needs a reset after coming home from traveling, you may not be making the wisest of choices while on the road. The chaotic, spontaneous, and live-in-the-moment aspects of vacationing can certainly do a number on what you eat, so it's important to be very mindful of what you consume when you sit down for those meals. Here are some tips on how to choose wisely.

• Burgers - Skip the double or triple-burger sandwiches and opt for single burgers, or choose chicken, turkey, or veggie burgers instead of beef burgers if you want to go a little healthier. And watch those toppings! Limit yourself to vegetables (and vegetables only) and avoid high-fat sauces and the extra three pounds of bacon you normally put on top.
• Fried foods - Avoid fried meats, fried fish, French fries, onion rings, and deep-fried cheesecake bites as much as you can, no matter how good they taste! Choose grilled or broiled meats, fresh vegetables in place of those fries, and a healthy dessert instead.
• Beverages - Bringing a personal water bottle with you during your travels will help encourage you to stay hydrated and to avoid stopping for sodas or energy drinks along the way. When in restaurants, choose water over the soda fountain too! It's the best way to keep those extra calories out of your body!
• Menu options - Always look for whole foods in their most natural state for your meals and avoid those that are fried, swimming in butter, or covered in heavy creams and sauces. Try to fill your plate at least half full with vegetables and skip the decadent desserts, unless of course, you are sharing with those you are with. Remember, moderation is key here!

Armed With Information

You know what you should do when eating out, so pull out your dedication and willpower and make the right choices! You definitely won't regret it when you get back at home and you will never have to hit that reset button again!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Citrus Heights, Calif.