Vacations and Eating Healthy

Recently, I went to Florida to meet my new nephew. It was a fantastic trip but posed many difficulties for my healthy eating goals. Finding healthy choices when traveling is difficult, however, it is not impossible. On both travel days to and from the airports, I packed a low-fat mozzarella string cheese, apple, high fiber granola bar, baby carrots, and hummus in small snack containers and bags. It worked out great! I wasn't so hungry that I was tempted by the Annie's Pretzels or candy at all the terminals. Once I got to my destination, we ate lunch at Panera's and had many healthy options so I was fine. The weather was not good and walking outside was not an option, so that left me with one day of no exercise, but I planned on not exercising that day (thinking I'd be tired from traveling with a baby). Each day afterwards I had fun walking and including fun activities with my family that included exercise. Prior to each morning shower, I still fit in my ab and strength training (using my 4 month old as a weight!). The hardest part of the trip was finding my brother's food pantry. If you wanted it and craved it, they had it! I stuck to serving sizes, but still indulged in a 1/2 cup of cookie dough ice cream, 1 peanut chocolate smidgen, and 7 salt and vinegar potato chips. Afterwards, the next morning, I felt like my work that week was shot! I picked myself up and counted the unplanned calories = 430 calories. If only the amount of exercise needed to burn off the calories was on the food labels!

I ran at a higher intensity and for a longer time in the afternoon (with a 3 year old and a baby!) the next day to create the calorie deficit needed to meet my weight goal. So there you have it! Indulging in some guilty pleasures but not ruining my weight and diet goals! Eating healthy can work!

Cheers,

The Dieting Dietitian