Sticking to a Diet While on Vacation

By Randi Morse 

Traveling is at an all-time high during the holiday season. Vacationing and visiting with distant friends and relatives is definitely a perk of the holidays. While vacationing is a great way to lower your stress level and reset your mind and spirit, it can wreak havoc on any sort of diet or eating life change you're on. Don't let your vacation ruin all the hard work you've put into getting into shape. With a little preparedness, you'll find that you're able to enjoy your vacation without going overboard on calories. 

Research 

It can be great to go on a spontaneous vacation, but if you're trying to stick to a meal plan that spontaneity may be your downfall. With a little bit of research, however, you will find that you are able to eat healthy no matter where you may be. Research the restaurants around you; if your entourage has already decided on the restaurant, check their menu online to find the healthiest dish they have. If your hotel has a mini bar, it is possible to call ahead and have the staff remove any temptations from the room before you arrive. 

Pack Food 

Plan ahead and pack some food and snacks for your trip. Airline meals, and the snacks they serve, are notoriously high in calories and processed products. Instead, bring your own snacks. Things like jerky or fruits will satisfy your craving without making you go over your daily food intake allowance. It's also a good idea to keep snacks in your bag with you while you are sightseeing. Not only do snacks tend to be fairly costly, especially in tourist cities, it's easy to give into temptation when something decadent is sitting right in front of you. 

Food Portions 

Restaurants today often serve huge portions. While this is great for your wallet, it's bad for your waistline. If a server places a large amount of food on a plate in front of you, your first instinct is going to be to finish as much of it as you can. Try, instead, sharing your entree with one of the members of your party. If you can't find anyone to share with, request a take-home box as soon as the plate is placed in front of you. Place half of the meal in the take-home box and leave half on your plate. Since the food is out of your sight you will be far less tempted to eat it, and it will make a great lunch or dinner the next evening.  

With a little preparedness and research, you can enjoy your holiday or vacation without having to worry about the number that you'll see on the scales when you return home. 

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