Here’s how to stay healthy on vacation
Taking a vacation can provide a break from everyday work stresses. But it can often be difficult to enjoy oneself — without overindulging — and stay fit and healthy while away.
Even if you are relatively healthy while at home, once on vacation, there can be temptation around every corner.
But here are seven easy tips to help you stay healthy on vacation.
1. Determine your destination: While deciding where to go is one of the fun aspects of a vacation, it can also determine the foundation of your entire trip. No matter where you are traveling, do the research needed to have healthy options available to you.
On a recent trip to Maui, I was happy to learn that hotels like Fairmont Kea Lani and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali offer guests morning fitness classes such as boot camp, Pilates and yoga. The classes are suitable for all fitness levels and a great way to stay active on vacation. Many hotels offer a 24-hour fitness center with stateof-the-art cardio and weight machines.
With health-centric amenities readily available to you, it will make it easier to stay on track.
2. Pack healthy snacks: If you have healthy snacks on hand, you won’t have the urge to stop by the first fast food stand you see when you get hungry. On flights, try carrying some easy snack essentials such as baby carrots, hummus, a ripe avocado or fruits that don’t need refrigeration such as apples and bananas. Other healthy snack options include Bubba’s ‘NANA CHIPS and Bare Snacks. Bubba’s ‘NANA Chips are grain- and gluten-free without added sugars. They are similar to potato chips in taste but are made from green bananas. They come in a variety of flavors such as Blazing Buffalo or Grand Garlic Parmesan.
Other great snacks include raw almonds, walnuts and celery sticks. When opting for nuts as a snack, make sure to choose ones that aren’t salted or coated with sugar and chocolate. As a general rule, try not to eat more than a palm-size amount of nuts. They can be healthy, but they are high in calories, so snack in moderation.
These types of snacks are not only great for the airport, but they can come in handy while you are at your vacation destination.
3. Make your vacation active: Most people have an idea that vacation is meant to be lounging by the beach or poolside, with little movement. Prior to arriving at your destination, schedule at least one activity every other day that involves getting out and moving. Walk everywhere — not only do you get to truly take in the sights of the location, but you will burn calories along the way. Most hotels provide a map of the grounds and the town, so make use of the maps to plot a leisurely walk after breakfast, lunch or dinner. There is nothing wrong with setting up and sitting poolside, but also remember to switch it up so the entire vacation isn’t spent lounging.
4. Book a wellness treatment to rest and relax: While staying active on vacation is important, take time to relax and pamper your body. During my stay in Maui, I had the opportunity to visit some spas that each offered diverse experiences. Depending on where you are visiting, many spas will incorporate local ingredients into the treatment. At the Heavenly Spa by
Westin — an impressive 15,000-squarefoot facility with whirlpools, steam rooms and saunas, they offer a “Pamper Me in Paradise” treatment, which is a relaxing head-to-toe, 80-minute experience. It includes a full-body sugar scrub and moisture body wrap featuring the spa’s exclusive passion fruit and pineapple blend, followed by a minifacial and ending with a relaxing scalp and foot massage.
Incorporating a relaxation experience on your vacation can allow you to unwind, while learning about local ingredients and products.
5. Disconnect from your mobile phone, laptop and other devices: Take the day to explore your destination without checking emails and text messages. Because of the saturation of technology in our everyday lives, it might seem every email or text warrants an immediate response, but most things can wait.
6. Look for healthy options on restaurant menus: Peruse the restaurant menu before a meal — know what you are getting yourself into. Before heading to recently opened restaurant The Hideaway at Montage Kapalua Bay, I studied the menu to make sure there were entrees as well as appetizers that would be healthy and along the lines of what I wanted to eat. Ko at the Fairmont Kea Lani, which won “Best Hawaii Regional Cuisine” in Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine, also provided healthy options in addition to highlighting regional cuisine using local ingredients.
At all the other restaurants we dined at, prior to going for a meal, I did a scan of the menu and chose at least two items I wanted to eat and that were healthy and good for me. This is a great technique to do at home as well before going to a new restaurant. It is better to know what is available than arriving very hungry and finding every item is unhealthy. It makes it much easier to stay the path of eating healthy while on vacation.
7. Cut yourself some slack: If you are worried about skipping a workout or indulging in dessert, then you are missing the point of vacation. Have fun and make it about spending time with your loved ones and doing things you enjoy.