5 Tips from Your Louisville Wellness Coach
Don’t leave your healthy eating habits behind when you’re away from home!
Whether you’re hitting the road on a business trip or taking a much-needed vacation with the family, even the most experienced travelers can fall off the wagon when it comes to their nutrition goals. Being away from home, coupled with the disruption to a normal routine, can open the door to powerful temptations that meander us away from a healthy eating path to end up in the weeds of bad choices.
But by following a few simple tips from your Louisville wellness coach, you can ward off random cravings, indulge in healthy options, and avoid bringing any extra baggage back home by way of your waistline.
Tip #1: Are you sure it’s hunger? You may just be thirsty.
If you have to endure a long flight or car ride to get to your destination, it may seem easy to let boredom give into to temptation of reaching for a sugary or greasy snack. But did you know a lot of those out-of-nowhere, unhealthy cravings can quickly be satisfied with a few refreshing sips of water? It’s true! Not only will it keep you hydrated, but water also helps you eat less by making you feel fuller and more energized.
Tip #2: Avoid fast food and gas station staples.
The highway is littered with seemingly endless fast-food chains featuring oversized portions as well as convenience stores overstocked with processed, sugary treats down every aisle. So even the most disciplined health fanatics may find it difficult to eat healthy on road trips. Not only does this threaten your waistline but your overall health as well.
As tempting as they may seem when hunger hits, it’s best to avoid any “nourishment” at these establishments if possible. But if you find yourself with no other option than a stop at a fast-food restaurant or a quick snack search at a convenient store, at least make it a point to locate the least processed, most nutritious thing you can find – though few and far between these options may be.
Tip #3: Don’t go long periods without eating.
A golden rule for healthy eating is to eat something every 2-3 hours. That keeps your metabolism humming and helps stave off the sudden ferocious cravings that often lead to unhealthy gorging. Be sure to have access to plenty of healthy snacks along your route – which leads us to our next tip…
Tip # 4: Pack plenty of healthy snacks that you know you’ll enjoy eating.
When you’re in the car, the last thing you need is an endless supply of junk food. Stash some of the following snacks in the cooler or your bag when you’re on the go. That way, you’re more likely to reach for these healthy alternatives rather than the abundance of candy, processed chips, and snack cakes, among a ton of other less than ideal options. Here are some of our favorites:
- Fruit slices
- Hummus (with celery or baby carrots)
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Rice cakes with almond butter
- Homemade trail mix consisting of raisins, almonds, pumpkin/sunflower seeds, & walnuts
- Whole grain crackers
- Egg salad
The list of healthy, convenient snack choices is endless, but these are a few great options to get you started in the right direction. Mix and match your favorites and prepare with pride!
Tip #5: Weigh all your dining options at your destination ahead of time.
Do you plan on eating out or preparing your own meals when you arrive at your destination? Although you’re likely to have healthier options and even save some money with the latter, you can still eat healthy for every meal when you get where you’re going. All you need is a little planning before you go. Search online for restaurants with the healthiest menus closest to where you’ll be staying and make note of their locations. Better yet, if your accommodations have a kitchen, plan on hitting a local supermarket to stock your temporary pantry with nutritious ingredients to prepare as many healthy meals as you’ll need.
Bottom line: Calories still count when you’re away from home!
Whether you’ll be sipping a tropical drink by the pool or on the beach, enjoying a weekend mountain getaway, or wining and dining with colleagues on a business trip, don’t fool yourself into thinking away-from-home calories don’t count. Make it a point to continue your healthy eating goals on your trip. Of course, you shouldn’t deprive yourself completely if you want to indulge just a tad, but you don’t have to throw caution to the wind and break the bank with one bad choice after another. By remaining vigilant on your wellness journey while out and about, you can enjoy your new surroundings without the ill effects to your health that often come with prolonged travel.
If you need help, our Louisville wellness coach is standing by!
If you find that you need some help in planning healthy meals or snacks while away from home or you just want to live a healthier lifestyle in general, the staff at Vibrant Med Spa would love the chance to work with you and help you achieve your goals through our Wellness Program. Call us 502-618-0995 to learn about all the ways we can partner with you on your wellness journey.
