The holidays can be a hectic time filled with festive gatherings and lots of travel, resulting in health and wellness being less of a priority. The key to staying on track with your goals while traveling during the holiday season is to plan ahead. Below are some healthful considerations to make while traveling.
Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to overeating, a negative mood, and unsafe travel conditions. In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday season, aim for six to nine hours of sleep a night and take a short nap in the afternoon if you need it.
Remain active. The best way to compensate traveling long distances and being sedentary, as well as for eating a little more than usual is to be active. Make frequent stops, if possible, to stretch and walk. Also, consider starting a new tradition that involves moving around away from the food. Ideas include taking a walk or bike ride with the whole family or playing an outdoor sport.
Eat a healthful breakfast. Choose a high fiber, protein meal to give you energy to travel and fuel to prevent from heavy snacking during travel time.
Pack healthy snacks. Healthy travel snacks ensure that you stay energized and satisfied while on the go. These healthy options also help to prevent overeating later.
- Fruit: clementines, apples, bananas, dried fruit, unsweetened applesauce, fruit cups (in juice or water).
- Vegetables: carrots, celery sticks, snap peas, sliced peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, or cherry tomatoes.
- Rice cakes, pretzels, whole grain crackers, or light popcorn.
- Unsalted nuts, roasted edamame, natural peanut butter (for crackers or vegetables), bring a small cooler for low fat string cheese or light yogurt.
Drink water. Hunger is often mistaken for thirst, so you may find yourself reaching for more snacks or munchies while traveling if you are not getting enough. Also, try to steer clear of juice, soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages.
Stay on track with your goals by planning ahead and continue to make your health and wellness a priority.
