Me too, but it totally sucks.
It’s so easy to fall off the wagon and say “I’ll worry about it when I get home”, but it really is difficult to get back into a routine. Especially after a week long carb-fest. We recently went on a seven day vacay, and though I indulged in dessert and more wine than usual, I still found a way to snack healthy and workout. Here are a few tips I’ve learned if you don’t want to totally lose all that hard work you’ve put in when you finally get a chance for a much needed vacation.
how eat (semi) healthy & stay fit on vacation!
Pack Snacks for the Trip
It’s easy to travel with small things, especially if you have a big carry on. Plus it’s hard to find what you are used to in new locations. I usually bring food for the whole trip like cinnamon almonds, Yogi tea, a few Vega smoothie packets, super greens, and stevia. And they all fit in a small ziploc sandwich bag! I also bring the kids a lunchbox full of snacks for at least two meals. I know that seems excessive for a four hour flight…but don’t forget about the possibility of delays. It’s nice to have enough just in case, especially when they get squirrely. Or stuck unexpectedly on a tarmac.
For the girls I normally bring these healthy snacks on board the plane:
- Peanut butter crackers
- Sandwich
- Fruit packets like Buddy Fruits
- Apple or Banana
- Carrot, celery & zucchini sticks
- Fruit Snacks (dye-free of course!)
- Granola Bar or Cereal Bar
- Goldfish or other grain like a homemade trail mix
- Lollipops for take off and/or landing ( I realize this isn’t healthy, but it’s a lifesaver!)
- Sippy Cup, they always seem to spill!
And for the grown ups:
- Almonds (I like the cinnamon ones from Emerald)
- Apple or Banana you can pick up at the airport or bring from home
- Vega One Complete Meal Bar
- For longer flights a sandwich or lunch meat roll-ups
- Chopped veggies (like kids – carrots, celery & zuchinni sticks) and a salad I normally pick up at the airport
- Water
Shop When You Arrive
We almost always book a place with a full kitchen and head straight to the grocery store when we arrive at our vacation destination. We stock up on eggs and oatmeal for breakfast, carrots and celery, hummus, fruit, lunch meat and salad stuff. At the very least we can have a healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks, and then go with the flow for dinner. It’s especially helpful traveling with kids with allergies to get almond milk and a few things they are used to eating on a daily basis.
Plus it saves lots of money not eating out so much – more to spend on fun activities and souvenirs! Or in our case more rides at the Mall of America.
 |
| The view from my morning hikes on Big Powderhorn Mountain in Ironwood, MI. |
Exercise!
Many don’t like working out on the road, but I find it relaxing and energizing, especially when we don’t sleep well. Hotels always have gyms, and if not you can always walk. We recently stayed on the side of the mountain, and I hiked up and down the ski hill every morning. Then came in and rotated legs, chest, triceps other cardio workouts in our room. The kids have fun doing squats and abs too! It wasn’t perfect, but I’m proud I only gained a pound or two on this trip.There are also lots of online workouts you can access on your phone like Crunch Live classes or Always Active Athletics if the weather isn’t picture perfect!
Choose Active Activities
We always find a fun active activity like: hiking, walking, biking, kayaking, something to get everyone’s bodies moving! We normally plan our trip around these activities to encourage our little ones to love exercise as well!
Go With the Flow
Did you like this post? You might also like my cardio with the kiddos! And don’t forget to give us a like on Facebook!
*Disclosure: Vega sent me samples of their various products, however I was not compensated for this post. I love their dairy free products and all opinions are 100% my own!
Great tips! We’re going away soon (just for a long weekend), but we always try to get a place with a kitchen too, so we can make our own meals. Eating out with a kid with food allergies can be tricky, plus it’s so darn expensive! As for the sleep part… if the boys can’t have their own beds, Eric and I divide and conquer. He and I might sleep like crap being kicked and laid on all night, but at least the kids get a decent night’s sleep 😉
Looks like I’ll be doing burpees in the morning! 🙂
I can NEVER bring myself to work out on vaca, even though I always bring workout clothes in case the mood strikes me! We always try to get a place with a kitchen too, esp with the kids its just easier for breakfasts and lunches. Great tips here!
We do what you do…I love renting a house/cabin instead of staying in a hotel. It’s so nice to buy our own food, especially breakfasts and lunches and make it at the house. We’ve not flown with both boys yet, but I like that snack list for planes! I bring my smoothie mixes and TRY to workout on vacation, hiking, a little 10 minute cardio burst…just something to get moving. I always feel so much better if I attempt to stay in my routine!
That mountain view with the ski lift is absolutely gorgeous! It is a billion degrees in Southern Az and I want a cool retreat like that STAT. Great tips and loving the Vega bars. Will need to check them out.
This is so timely because I’m on a trip now! I learned in Disney world that traveling with kids is no joke! You need lots of protein, veggies and water to keep up the energy all day. Rings true here at the beach too!
These are awesome ideas, girl. I allllways lose my fit and gain my fat on vacay. It’s like a curse. My “relaxed” Jen self doesn’t think about exercise and stuff…I figure if I do, I do, but if I don’t, cool. I’m not the awesome chick runnin that treadmill in the hotel gym every morning. But your tips? WAY more do-able. And those bars look incredible!
I tend to splurge on vacation, but I try not to go crazy. Packing your own snacks and things is a great idea. We try to do that and I think it makes a big difference. As for working out, it depends on where we go and for how long. I didn’t workout when we went to Disney, but we were walking all day and weren’t there very long. We go down the shore every summer for a week, so I like to run on the boardwalk. It’s helpful that a bunch of my family members enjoy running too.
I totally suck at this. TOTALLY SUCK AT IT.