Five Tips for Healthy Summer Vacations
(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.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
