Is it possible to travel, dine out, and still stay on track with your healthy eating and exercise plan? The answer, according to Audrey McKernan of the von Arx Diabetes Center of Excellence, is a resounding “Yes!” The trick is to plan and to use every tool at your disposal. McKernan has many helpful tips, and she shares them with us here.
When Traveling • Try to stay in a house or apart- ment, so you can cook your own meals and are not at the mercy of restaurants or markets. • Try to travel by car if possible, so you can pack your own healthy foods, such as a cooler or lunch salads, fruits and cool water. You can also find healthier eating spots along the route and plan your stops around those spots. • Bring healthy snacks, such as nuts or string cheese, that will tide you over in case your meals are delayed. • Stay away from vending machines and drive-thru windows. • Factor healthy food into your vacation budget. Don’t settle for cheap junk food. Plan to spend a bit more for fresh food, and cut back on other expenses. • If you’re staying with relatives or friends, call ahead and discuss food preferences. Offer to make a supermarket run when you arrive to get the things you and your family like to eat. • Offer to make a lightened-up ver- sion of a family favorite. Remem- ber to keep portions small. • Bring at least one dish that you
know you and your family can eat to a holiday or family party. • If a buffet is your option, survey the whole buffet first and start by filling your plate with salad, fruits and vegetables. • Try to stick to your normal eating schedule. • Don’t skip breakfast or let your- self get too hungry, lest you go off the rails when you do finally eat. • If you’re traveling for business and are given a box lunch, eat the protein, vegetables and fruit and skip the rest. • Try not to conduct business around the dessert table. Move your discussion away from the food to avoid eating mindlessly. • If you’re going on a cruise, call ahead and discuss your dietary requirements with the company. Fitness on the Road You almost always can find ways to get in some movement while traveling. Exercise, too, requires a bit of plan- ning ahead, but you can achieve it. Try these tips. • Choose a hotel with a gym or pool, or rent an Airbnb near walking trails or a park.
Don’t skip breakfast or let yourself get too hungry, lest you go off the rails when you do finally eat.
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NAPLES HEALTH APRIL - JUNE 2019
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