A lot of people worry about eating healthily when on holiday. Which leads us to ask – why? After all, holidays are for relaxing and taking a break, not for stressing about your macros.
So if you’re asking how you can maintain your healthy eating while on holiday, the simple answer is, you don’t.
That said, there are a few things you can do while you’re away from your routine to avoid accumulating an excess of pounds.
Taking a holiday should be about trying different cuisines, seeing the sights and conversing with new people. But you don’t have to take a holiday from your entire personality or ethos.
Go to a taverna, try pasta at a factory, or sample the local gelato; but don’t eat out at the local McDonalds. Not only will you be missing out on the real authentic experience, but you won’t be doing your body any favours.
A few holidays a year are not going to completely derail your whole health and fitness or anything like that. Remember that there is no wagon, so you don’t have to worry about falling off it.
But don’t use your holiday as an excuse to eat and drink whatever you want either. That’s a completely different scenario.
Eating out by the lapping shores of Lake Garda and enjoying the wine is not the same as demolishing ten packet of crisps or chocolate bars.
Holidays are a chance to do things you don’t normally do. You should be more worried about the other 47 weeks of the year than your two week summer break, or Christmas overindulging.
Stocking up on turkey and stuffing, roast potatoes and an extra chocolate here and there aren’t going to have an effect on your long term health. Especially if you’re eating and exercising well all year round.
If you’ve decided to splurge on beer, junk food, seafood or whatever it is you’re letting your hair down with, that’s fine. But just one word of warning. Your body is used to good food being put into it, so if your holiday actions leave you feeling terrible then don’t carry on regardless. You don’t want to be on a boat in the Algarve with stomach cramps or like a bear with a sore head on the beach.
Don’t forget everything that you know will make you feel good - water, vegetables, a healthy breakfast – but most importantly of all, don’t stress out on your holiday! You can do that when you get back!