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 Five Tips for Healthy Summer Vacations
- by Sam Serio
(ARA) - The temptation to abandon
healthy eating habits is especially strong during vacations,
when we are diverted from our normal routines. Away from home
and on the go, it's so easy to grab a candy bar from a vending
machine or stop at a fast-food drive-thru for a burger and fries.
With even a small amount of planning, however, you can continue
to eat healthy and feel great! Here are some valuable tips to
help you make the best choices this summer. Remember, family
members will mimic what you do, so it's important to lead by
example.
Stock your hotel fridge
The simplest tip for avoiding
unhealthy munching is not to have bad-for-you snacks around.
Make a shopping list and take just a few extra minutes to head
out to the local grocery store to fill your hotel mini fridge
or beach house pantry with choices that are still delicious and
satisfying for the entire family. Snacks such as Del Monte Fruit
Naturals Red Grapefruit, crackers and nuts, will ensure you're
arming your family with healthy snacks that will help fight off
junk food temptations!
"Fruit Naturals are a
convenient and portable way to get just one more serving of fruits
into your diet and to help you meet the recommendations for the
daily value of vitamin C" according to Laura Molseed, MS,
RD, LDN, and nutritionist for Del Monte Foods. Fruit Naturals
are available in seven varieties including Red Grapefruit. "Research
also suggests red grapefruit may help to fight certain types
of cancer, as well as have an effect on weight loss."
Drink lots of H20
Experts recommend drinking
at least six glasses (48 ounces) of water per day and eight glasses
(64 ounces) if you are active or exercising. Long trips on airplanes,
car rides to distant destinations, or busy days at the beach,
however, often prevent us from getting enough fluids. A good
tip is to start hydrating in advance and keep plenty of water
on hand throughout the day.
"Airplanes tend to be
extremely dry, with an average of 10 percent humidity -- that's
drier than the Sahara desert," says Trisha Calvo, executive
editor of Shape magazine. When you are on a plane, be sure to
drink at least one cup of water per hour of flight. As soon as
you land, buy another bottle of water to drink while you wait
for your baggage or during the ride to the hotel." For a
different twist, Calvo recommends adding a slice of lemon or
lime for flavor, or trying a seltzer or club soda (zero sodium
only) as a great alternative to soda.
Never skip meals
Vacation is an ideal time to
catch up on sleep or read a book. But for most of today's busy
families, it means spending long days chasing the kids around
the amusement park -- where meals are missed or fast food is
the only available option. Regardless of your plans, don't forego
regular meals. This doesn't mean you have to eat according to
the clock -- physical hunger is our body's way of telling us
its time to eat. However, listen to your body's signals -- keep
your energy level up throughout the day by adding three healthy,
on-the-go snacks such as nuts, which are filled with fiber to
satisfy your hunger. Unlike candy or chips, these types of snacks
help prevent energy crashes and avoid playing havoc with your
blood sugar.
Dine smart
Don't panic! You don't have
to give up healthful eating or feel threatened because you are
trying new and unfamiliar restaurants. Simply learn how to make
the best choices when dining out, and have a truly rewarding
experience.
For example, try local fare
including organic vegetables, exotic fruits and fresh fish. Always
stick to baked and grilled foods, which are typically lower in
fat and sodium than fried choices. Furthermore, portion control
is extremely important, as well as eating slowly and mindfully.
Ask your waiter to bring a take home container along with your
meal, and immediately put half of it away. "If an appetizer
or extravagant dessert is calling your name, order it for the
entire table to share," Shape's Trisha Calvo advises. "Limit
yourself to three bites and savor them slowly, one at a time.
It's OK to indulge a sweet tooth once in awhile. You can actually
prevent cravings that may later lead you down the wrong path."
Move more
Who needs rest? Even on vacation,
it's crucial to get your heart pumping for at least 20 minutes
every day. Most hotels and resorts have fitness centers, pools,
tennis courts and golf courses. But movement can also be accomplished
by long walks at sunset with your spouse, or during a day of
sightseeing with the kids. In both instances, you also benefit
from building lasting memories.
Bring an easy-to-pack pedometer
to track your daily progress; if you and your family can cover
approximately 10,000 steps a day, you'll be doing great! "Cardio
is important because it helps keep your mind alert so you can
enjoy your vacation more," says Calvo. "Keep your energy
level up with protein or fruit, such as Fruit Naturals."
Bottom line: whether you are heading off for a
week at the seashore or a month-long adventure across the United
States, always stay hydrated, plan meals ahead, make smart choices,
exercise, and last but not least -- have fun! You'll definitely
feel the satisfaction of knowing you followed a healthy living
plan along the way.
- Author:
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- Courtesy of ARAcontent
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- Article Posted:
June 17, 2007
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