When you’re on the road, whereas for business or vacations, it’s easy to lose track of your diet and fall down the sidelines, we tend to think that eating healthy on the road is impossible. But, with some preparations, clever planning, and the tips below, you’ll see eating healthy while traveling is reasonably achievable.
1. Bring Plenty of Snacks
Start by packing smartly. Bring with you as many healthy snacks as possible. When we say pack smart is about bringing nutrient-dense, travel-friendly snacks that will sustain you. Think of snacks like beef jerky, dark chocolate, peanut butter, and nuts. You can also get powdered greens and freeze-dried fruits for smoothies.
2. Scan the Menu
The most challenging part of eating healthy on the road is picking food whenever you stop. If you stop at a gas station, you’ll only find fast-food chains. However, even there, you can make healthy choices. Instead of the fried chicken sandwich, get a grilled one; instead of the chicken nuggets, try a salad with grilled chicken; instead of the sugary soda, try a sugar-free lemonade. Scan the menu for different options that won’t hinder your healthy eating habits.
3. Practice Portion Control
While we’re talking about food on the road, let’s talk about portion control. Most fast-food chains and roadside restaurants serve giant portions of their meals. If you stop at a restaurant, immediately ask for a box and save half of the portion for later.
4. Consider Healthier Alternatives
Every time we eat, we can make decisions to include healthier alternatives. Even if you walk into a buffet, you can choose grilled or steamed over fried foods. Opt to change your sides from potatoes and rice to steamed vegetables and complex carbs instead. When making meal decisions on the road, do your best to look for healthier alternatives that will still help you feel satisfied.
It might seem obvious, but ICON Meals can be your healthy alternative while traveling too. We deliver to all 50 states, overnight. Just order online and have your chef prepared meals delivered to your hotel, air bnb or wherever you're staying at. Eating healthy doesn't have to be hard, we take all the guess work out of it for you. We cook, we pack and we ship directly to you!
5. Don’t Skip Meals
Lastly, while it might make sense to skip meals to stay “healthy” on the go, the side effects are entirely the opposite. Skipping meals slows down your metabolism but eventually comes back swinging with extreme cravings for everything salty, fatty, and sugary. Opt for smaller meals throughout the day to keep your body and metabolism running. That’s why bringing healthy snacks such as berries, hard-boiled eggs, dried fruit, and hummus is critical to eating healthy on the road.
Geraldine Orentas is a writer in partnership with Faxage online faxing service for traveling professionals.
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