A Healthier Vacation

We all do it. We splurge on vacation. I’m not just talking about money, although we do that too. But, we start eating a lot of greasy pizza, order that 5th sugary cocktail, and sleep in instead of going to the gym. In my unprofessional opinion, that is perfectly OK. We deserve it! But maybe we should keep it to a minimum. After several days, our stomachs are so bloated that we can no longer fit into our jeans and the walking tours become uncomfortable. So, maybe for those longer trips, we should try to take care of ourselves a little bit better. We can still splurge some since it is vacation after all, but here are some easy ways to be just a little bit healthier while still enjoying your epic adventure.

A healthier vacation

1. Walk a lot.

Walking is my absolute favorite way to get exercise while on vacation. Take a walking tour instead of a bus tour. Walk to your next destination instead of taking subway or a taxi. Walk up the stairs of your cruise ship instead of taking the elevator. It is a great way to explore a new city, and you will get to see a lot more of it than looking through a bus window or on a subway going through dark tunnels underground. (Pictured: Walking tour in Bruges, Belgium.)

Drink water.

I typically take a reusable water bottle and fill it up in the hotel every morning (assuming I’m in a country where the tap water is safe to drink). And, at restaurants, it’s generally free! It saves me money, it keeps me hydrated, and it saves me from the temptations of buying a sugary drink. I’d rather save my calories for something else! (Pictured: Water in Savannah, GA. )

A healthier Vacation: Add veggies

2. Eat your veggies.

I try to add veggies, especially dark leafy greens to everything I can. If you are in Paris, you absolutely must have crepes. But why not try loading it up with veggies. Sneaky but still amazingly delicious! One of my favorite combos is spinach, mushrooms, and onions. (Pictured: Crepe in Paris, France with arugula, artichokes, and tomatoes.)

A healthier vacation: Splitting a pot of mussels in bruges, belgium

3. Split large entrees.

You are on vacation, so getting that loaded bacon cheeseburger is OK! But split it with your significant other. We almost always regret it when we don’t split our entrees. We feel overstuffed and gross, get sluggish, oversleep, and then end up wasting precious vacation time. Bonus tip: If you want to try multiple items, order a few appetizers instead of a big entree. (Pictured: Splitting a pot of mussels in Bruges, Belgium.)

A healthier vacation - Farmers Markets

4. Go to the Farmers Market.

I know shopping at a farmers market is probably the last thing on your mind while on vacation, but I do it all the time and it is so much fun. When I’m in a new country, I love seeing what the locals actually eat and the best way to find out is at a local farmers market. You never know what type of funny looking vegetable or fruit you will find! Even if I’m still in the USA, I always enjoy creating a picnic lunch to eat in the park, by the lake, or on the beach. (Pictured: Borough Market in London.)

A healthier vacation - add fruit

5. Add fruit to everything.

This is one of the easiest tips in my opinion. Pile everything up with fruit. Add it to your cereal. Have it as a side. Go to a local farmers market and grab that pastry, but also get a basket of fresh strawberries. Getting ice cream for dessert? Berries, kiwi, and mango make an awesome topping! (Pictures: Pastry and strawberries on the beach in Nice, France.)