Eating Healthy While You Travel

Most of us try to make healthy food decisions on a regular basis, but it is probably even more essential to do so when you are on the road somewhere. Whether you travel for business or for pleasure, eating well keeps to body functioning at its best.

First and foremost, this means staying hydrated. Most travel conditions, such as airplanes or long car trips, are dehydrating by nature. Drinking at least eight glasses of water will help combat those effects, and avoiding drinks with caffeine and alcohol will help that water go even further.

It is tempting to splurge on food when you are traveling. Either you are traveling for business and someone else is picking up the tab or you are traveling for vacation and want to enjoy yourself. Keep in mind, if someone else is going to be reimbursing you, that salad is just as ‘free’ as the porterhouse steak. We’re not saying that you should never indulge, but choose wisely. On vacation, the same rule applies even though you are paying the bill yourself. Having a salad with oil and vinegar at lunch could mean that you can splurge on the fresh key lime pie at dinner. Also, if you really want to keep the caloric intake to a minimum, make sure to watch your alcohol consumption. Mostly it is about balance, same as at home.

It is also essential to plan ahead for some trips. If your flight spans a meal time, and you do not want to pay $10 for a bag of chips on the plane, allow for enough time to choose better options in the terminal. Most places can offer a turkey sandwich or a yogurt and banana that you can easily take on the plane with you.