Eating Healthy on Vacation

A Guest Post by Cole Millen, an avid traveler and foodie who frequently contributes to food-related blogs.

Going on vacation is an exciting experience, but it often also presents many opportunities for making poor food choices. Instead of "winging it" and hoping that you'll make the right choices, use these tips to ensure a high chance that you'll withstand all the temptation that lies with going on vacation.

One of the first things you'll more than likely do after setting out for your vacation is take a flight to your destination. While at the airport, use the stairs and carry your own luggage to ensure you get proper exercise. If you find that you've got a long wait before you can board your plane, walk around and check out what the airport has to offer! Grab a fruit cup to snack on while you explore.

In our fast-paced society, it can be difficult to find health-friendly hotels or areas that won't present constant temptation. To find an area that will be conducive to healthy eating habits, search for neighborhoods that have a lot of options available. You also can find health-friendly hotels by checking with the menu/food options before making reservations. Making sure the hotel has exercise equipment is a good idea as well.

Once you've checked into your hotel, this might be where the real challenge sets in. Hotel restaurants generally aren't great for offering healthful food options, so it's probably best to avoid them. Besides, many hotel rooms come with a microwave oven; use it to make healthier meals. Additionally, go straight for the food bar when it's time for breakfast. Make the healthy choices such as oatmeal, fruit, hard-boiled eggs, and whole-grain toast. The bagels and doughnuts aren't worth it.

Eating healthy in Key West

At some point during your trip, you'll probably want to treat yourself to a nice meal at a restaurant. I have found that it made a big difference in my travels when I began to read reviews of the restaurants and areas where I was staying before I left home. Without this preparation, you'll be in a blind food frenzy trying to pick a restaurant --- and this often leads to unhealthy eating. I did a poor job of this in the past and paid the price. For my most recent trip out west, I searched the Las Vegas hotel reviews and ended up with the best option for my personal eating habits, avoiding the buffet zone.

The first rule of thumb is to avoid buffet-style restaurants or any place that serves a lot of bread and starch. You can make great preparation by checking with online menus for restaurants before setting foot in them. Also, it doesn't hurt to munch on an apple and drink a glass of water before heading out the door. These can help fill your stomach and lessen your chances of overeating.

At the restaurant, be sure to make smart menu choices. For example, avoid foods that are battered, deep-fried, "loaded," stuffed, etc. Foods that are likely to fit into your healthy eating plan will be described as broiled, multi-grain, fat-free, light, etc. When you order, you may be asked to choose a side dish or dishes for your entree. Avoid carbs at all costs! If possible, always go with the veggie option. If you're completely clueless about what you should order, remember that brightly colored foods are generally better for you. Deep greens, red, orange, yellow and white are good choices. If you can follow these tips, you shouldn't have any problem staying on track health-wise while on vacation.