Angela Killian

I love food as much as any other fat American. Not to say I’m physically fat, but I am and always will be a fat kid at heart (the product of a generation raised on fast food). As a result, I inevitably find myself jotting down dozens of restaurant names while planning a holiday. “There aren’t enough meals in the day to eat at all these fabulous places!” I think to myself. This is the time when I settle on stuffing myself and then plan a strict detox upon my return when my work clothes don’t fit anymore. Here are some ways to not derail a healthy lifestyle on vacation.

1- Exercise

This is # 1 because it makes the biggest difference. I exercise regularly at home and usually do a ton of walking on vacation too. However, there are the occasional travel days where you are plopped in a comfy chair eating Cheetos for hours because you didn’t want to pay $15 for a salad at the airport. Running is free of charge and can be done in most places. I have gone jogging outside on most holidays including Tokyo, Cinque Terre and Sydney. There’s absolutely no excuse and running can double as sightseeing. If you’re going to a very cold destination you can exercise inside for free too – no hotel room is too small for squats and sit-ups.

2- Bring your own snacks

I get “hangry” (anger caused by being too hungry) more than most people I know. I blame the large amount of coffee I consume – that can’t be too good for balancing blood sugar levels, right? When the caffeine crash sets in I must have food RIGHT NOW OR I’M GOING TO KILL YOU. Individual serving size nuts, beef jerky and granola bars are lightweight snacks you can pack in your suitcase and carry-on bags. You never know what snacks will be available in your final destination, so pack enough for the whole trip if possible. I plan for 1 hangry attack per day and stock accordingly. You can buy fresh fruit, but I find it hard to transport without bruising or spoiling.

3- Drink coffee

Okay, so maybe it’s not healthy in large quantities, but it does curb your appetite AND give you energy. Sounds like a girl’s best friend, if you ask me. Just make sure it’s black with no sugar. We don’t want to trade nutritious solid calories for empty liquid calories. Starbucks VIA is my absolute favorite and I never leave home without it.

4- Share meals

The United States isn’t the only country with portion control issues. Share 1 meal between 2 people and you will save money while preventing muffin top.

5- Stay away from sweets and fried stuff

This sounds like common sense. However, as soon as I hit the airport, I am like a deprived kid in a candy store…literally, I’m in the candy store…and Burger King…and Dunkin Doughnuts. Whhhhhhy do we eat things we would never usually eat simply because “we’re on vacation”? Because we’re all looking for any excuse to let our inner fat kid shine. It’s totally okay to try signature, traditional or famous dishes that are super sweet and / or fried…but not every meal. A good rule of thumb is to stay away from any fried / sweet food you can easily get back home…French fries, doughnuts, cheese sticks, etc. I have yet to eat a life-changing French fry sober.

6- Go easy on the microbrews

Nothing gets me more amped than the thought of a REAL BEER after living in Thailand for so long, but the truth is this…after a few (or 4 or 5) microbrews, they all kinda taste the same. That’s when you’ll thank yourself for switching to a girly light beer. This will save you calories as well as a few bucks.

7- Drink water

I drink an obscene amount of water at home when I have unlimited supplies and nearby toilets. On vacation it’s difficult to maintain that motivation when you know you’ll be in a plane, train or automobile all day. Thirst is oftentimes mistaken for hunger. Besides, you might discover some cool truck stops or master the art of roadside urination. I bought this bad boy years ago at Bonnaroo and it sure does come in handy!