Eating
Well and Staying Active While Traveling
Without
access to their local supermarket or their favorite Pilates DVD, travelers
often find themselves subsisting on greasy fast food and abandoning their usual
exercise routines to sit for long hours on planes or buses. Vegetarian,
organic, low crab, low cal, low fat -- no matter what diet you're on, there's a
good chance that it went down the tubes on your last vacation.
But believe it or not, it is possible to eat well on a cross-country road trip, to stay active without access to a gym and even to go on a cruise without gaining 5 or 10 pounds. You can eat healthy and stay active no matter what kind of trip you're taking.
On the Plane
There's no more captive audience than a plane full of air travelers, particularly those on long international flights. But just because you're stuck on a plane doesn't mean you're stuck eating the congealed meat and starchy sides the airlines call food. (That's if your airline serves meals at all.
Your first line of defense against unhealthy airline menus is to bring what food you can from home. TSA security rules prohibit passengers from taking liquids and gels in excess of 3.4 ounces through airport security checkpoints, but solid snacks like bananas, apples, trail mix, nuts, carrots, celery sticks and energy bars should pass muster. Pack a few of these in your carry-on and skip the airline's salty snacks.
Once you've passed through security, anything you buy at the airport may be
brought onto your flight, so this is your chance to stock up on bottled water
and buy a salad or sandwich to eat on the plane. Many airports have begun
adding more healthy dining options to their standard array of fast food; look
for dishes with lots of vegetables and fiber, and skip the fried stuff.
In flight, avoid alcohol and soft drinks -- both can dehydrate you. Water is always your best bet for staying hydrated and sticking to your diet.
How Do You Stay Healthy While Traveling? Tell us all about it
On the Road
Long hours of sitting in the car and eating fast food at every rest stop can derail a diet faster than you can say "road trip." How can you break the cycle? First, take McDonald's off the menu. Before you set forth on your journey, fill a cooler with healthy snacks like fruit, raw veggies and sandwiches from home, and then restock your stash along the way with offerings from local grocery stores. Don't forget the bottled water! (Save money and the environment by purchasing gallon jugs of water to use to refill your bottles.)
Bypass rest stops and seek out independent cafes and restaurants -- not only will you eat better, but you'll
also meet locals and
get a better flavor of the town you're in. It's especially helpful for those in
search of organic options.
On particularly long car trips, be sure to stop at least once a day for an exercise break. Check your road map for nearby national, state or local parks where you can go for a hike, or spend some time exploring a new town or city by foot.
At the
Hotel
When choosing a hotel, look for one that offers a fitness center or pool -- and then use them once you get there! Green Planet Travels allow you to customize your search to show only hotels that offer certain fitness amenities.
If your hotel doesn't have a gym, why not bring your own? We don't advise trying to squeeze a set of dumbbells into your suitcase, but it's easy enough to pack a resistance band or to download an exercise program onto your MP3 player so that you can work out in your room. (iTRAIN is one of several companies providing downloadable workouts.) As a lower-tech option, you can always jog in place in front of the TV for half an hour, make your own exercise routine of jumping jacks and squats, or do some early-morning stretches or stomach crunches before heading out for the day.
You may also want to consider booking a hotel room with a kitchenette or even renting
a house or apartment so that you can do your own cooking. This will save you
money on food and give you more control over your diet. If you choose to eat at
the hotel instead, be sure to take a careful look at what kind of dining
options are available. Several hotel chains have eliminated trans fats from
their menus in the past few years, including Loews and Omni.
But believe it or not, it is possible to eat well on a cross-country road trip, to stay active without access to a gym and even to go on a cruise without gaining 5 or 10 pounds. You can eat healthy and stay active no matter what kind of trip you're taking.
On the PlaneThere's no more captive audience than a plane full of air travelers, particularly those on long international flights. But just because you're stuck on a plane doesn't mean you're stuck eating the congealed meat and starchy sides the airlines call food. (That's if your airline serves meals at all.
Your first line of defense against unhealthy airline menus is to bring what food you can from home. TSA security rules prohibit passengers from taking liquids and gels in excess of 3.4 ounces through airport security checkpoints, but solid snacks like bananas, apples, trail mix, nuts, carrots, celery sticks and energy bars should pass muster. Pack a few of these in your carry-on and skip the airline's salty snacks.
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In flight, avoid alcohol and soft drinks -- both can dehydrate you. Water is always your best bet for staying hydrated and sticking to your diet.
How Do You Stay Healthy While Traveling? Tell us all about it
On the RoadLong hours of sitting in the car and eating fast food at every rest stop can derail a diet faster than you can say "road trip." How can you break the cycle? First, take McDonald's off the menu. Before you set forth on your journey, fill a cooler with healthy snacks like fruit, raw veggies and sandwiches from home, and then restock your stash along the way with offerings from local grocery stores. Don't forget the bottled water! (Save money and the environment by purchasing gallon jugs of water to use to refill your bottles.)
Bypass rest stops and seek out independent cafes and restaurants -- not only will you eat better, but you'll
also meet locals and
get a better flavor of the town you're in. It's especially helpful for those in
search of organic options.On particularly long car trips, be sure to stop at least once a day for an exercise break. Check your road map for nearby national, state or local parks where you can go for a hike, or spend some time exploring a new town or city by foot.
At the
HotelWhen choosing a hotel, look for one that offers a fitness center or pool -- and then use them once you get there! Green Planet Travels allow you to customize your search to show only hotels that offer certain fitness amenities.
If your hotel doesn't have a gym, why not bring your own? We don't advise trying to squeeze a set of dumbbells into your suitcase, but it's easy enough to pack a resistance band or to download an exercise program onto your MP3 player so that you can work out in your room. (iTRAIN is one of several companies providing downloadable workouts.) As a lower-tech option, you can always jog in place in front of the TV for half an hour, make your own exercise routine of jumping jacks and squats, or do some early-morning stretches or stomach crunches before heading out for the day.
Would you
like to me on my mailing list? “Just
drop me a note”
"I haven't been
everywhere yet, but it's on my list." – James Brannon
Travels help Web
site: http://greenplanettravelers.globaltravel.com/
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**Hey There
My Fellow Travelers**
If you been
reading and like what you been seeing then please send me a email at greenplanettravelers@yahoo.com
And I will
put you on my free goody travel list, if you are thinking of going on a
vacation let me know and I will send you a free travel guide.
And this
will put you on my personal travel email list that no one will ever
Get a Hold
of it!
Thank you.
James
Brannon
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