Discovering how to eat healthy while traveling for the holidays may seem like a daunting task, but believe it or not, it can be done! The key isn’t to give up all the things we love to eat at this time of the year. Instead, it’s to take a good hard look at exactly what causes us to eat unhealthy foods, plan ahead, and make smart choices regarding which ones we should or should not be having.
What Makes Traveling for the Holidays so Hard on Healthy Eating?
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying our favorite holiday treats. However, if we decide that as of Thanksgiving and through until the New Year, we can have whatever’s most convenient, then nutrition might as well not be a factor at all.
Of course, you can have some low-nutrition but high-nostalgia and huge-flavor foods on Thanksgiving and all the other holidays you celebrate. However, keep in mind that “the holidays” are specific days, and not all the time in between. There’s lots of room in the middle to eat healthy when you’re traveling for the holidays.
What makes it feel so tough in the first place? First and foremost, we’re on the go and we don’t take the time that is required to prepare and eat the right foods. We’re also traveling and therefore in “vacation mode” and that means that we’re not even thinking about diet, nutrition, or what it takes to lose weight. In addition, this is a time for some of our favorite foods of the year, and so that means that we must really remain dedicated to eating well even at a time of year that is full of so much temptation. There are many reasons to remain dedicated to the cause!
Yes, You Can Eat Healthy When You’re Traveling for the Holidays
If you feel as though traveling for the holidays is an excuse for eating poorly, think again. Though you may need to insert some preparation into your eating efforts, they can really pay off.
So, the first thing to consider is what types of foods you can take with you. Though you may be tempted with fast food at an airport or your favorite foods at your final destination, it’s all about rising above that. Being prepared with some healthy snacks like some nuts and seeds, or fresh fruits and veggies can be a huge life saver. An apple doesn’t take any prep time at all. It comes in its own natural travel case!
Think through how to bring these with you or even to shop for some healthy fare when you arrive to your final destination. This may seem like a big pain to you, but this form of preparation will ensure that you don’t eat the wrong foods throughout your trip.
Preparation and Research Can Go a Long Way
Another thing to consider when traveling for the holidays is how to allow for some healthy meals or snacks along the way. If you are going away on vacation to a destination, then you want to research what healthy fare will be available to you. Surely there is some type of healthy restaurant available somewhere nearby, or at least one that has some salad options.
If you have access to a grocery store or shop that you can purchase healthy foods from, that helps a lot too. It may even be a matter of researching things beforehand or looking over menus for the restaurants you will dine at. There’s always some way to remain healthy and dedicated to your diet when away.
Be Smart, but Not Too Hard on Yourself
Though traveling for the holidays can often wreak havoc on your diet and weight loss plans, that doesn’t mean that it has to. If you want to be your healthiest and best, then you have to find a way to eat well no matter where you are. Preparing healthy snacks on the go or researching your best healthy eating options helps a lot. So does thinking through what you can do to avoid your greatest temptations.
This is all about dedication and change in mindset too. Don’t use this time of year or travel as a reason for eating whatever you want. Think of how you can remain healthy and eat good foods no matter where you may go, and you will be just fine in the end!
All that said, it is an important time of year. Focus on eating healthy while you’re traveling for the holidays but give yourself the opportunity to celebrate on the days themselves. Certainly, you can employ a bit of self-control when it comes to portion size, but if you love that slice of pumpkin pie after dinner, enjoy it.