It is always a challenge to stick to your nutritional program or diet when you go on holiday. The biggest two problems are finding healthy fat burning foods, and avoiding the temptation to slip into bad habits.
So here are a few tips to help you find healthy foods when you go on vacation.
- Look For Grilled Food
Don't just shelve your good habits when you go on vacation. Or you'll be sure to shelve your lean physique too! Delicious and satisfying foods are available wherever you go, and you don't need to sacrifice nutritional value either.
With that in mind keep your eyes open for grilled meats and fish and stay away from fried foods.
If you're visiting a seaside resort then you can expect to find a lot of fresh seafood. But landlocked or inland destinations will probably serve mostly red meat, game and poultry. Just remember to use your experience when choosing your meals. Would you prepare a meal this way? If not then it's probably a good idea to make another choice.
- Eat At Local Restaurants
Whenever I've traveled I've found the smaller, local places do the best food. Whether it's because they take pride in showcasing the fresh, local produce, or because they take more pride in how the food tastes I'm not sure. Well maybe it's both! But locally sourced food generally means fresh, natural and delicious.
Local restaurants, and their chefs, specialize in getting the most flavor out of their food! And this is good for you because it typically means that healthier cooking options are used, rather than convenience, processed foods and cooking techniques.
On the flip side, larger rood chains and fast food restaurants are known for going after mass-produced foods. These foods are almost always of a lower quality and they are prepared in a way that is bad for you.
Don't be afraid to ask the waiter to leave out certain ingredients from your food if they don't fit in with your nutritional program. And don't be afraid to leave any "nasty" bits uneaten.
- Plan Ahead
If you're going out on a day trip, sightseeing or planning on spending your day at the beach then plan how you'll satisfy your hunger.
But when you're in unfamiliar surroundings it can be hard to find a place to eat. And if you do, you're only choice might be an ice cream stall and a greasy diner!
- Enter the fat burning snack!
As you'll probably know from my blog, mixed nuts are a big part of my diet. Hardly surprising then that I always travel with them when I can.
They are so convenient to carry, and won't go bad in your bag. So you're onto a winner really.
Another great tip is to carry some fresh fruit. Fruit with a skin is just as convenient to carry as a bag of nuts. And if you are staying in a hotel that provides a decent breakfast spread then there will likely be enough fresh fruit to last you the day. Just take some with you!
The best options are bananas, apples, oranges, kiwi etc.
- Relax, You're On Vacation
Remember that you are on vacation to enjoy yourself. And life is too short not to enjoy the occasional treat!
Don't be afraid to look at the dessert menu. If you see something that looks irresistible then go for it. I personally enjoy a good dessert once in a while.
But don't go too far and go for a desert with every meal. This will leave you feeling bloated, tired, lethargic and put your body in fat storage mode. You might actually find yourself taking some of the enjoyment away from the holiday.
Above all else you need to trust yourself and your food choices. You know your limits, and you know what is good for you and what isn't so great. By sticking to your nutritional program you can control junk food cravings.
At the end of the day you can't control how your food is prepared, or how it is sourced, so don't stress about it! Vacations are a time to relax and recharge your batteries. And if you follow these tips you'll come back just as lean as when you left!
I hope you enjoyed this article. To find out more about fat burning foods and how they can help you lose weight, check out my blog. I'll also introduce you to weight loss recipes and much more!
