Healthy Eating on the Road

Sticking to a healthy diet can be challenging. Maintaining a healthy diet while traveling can be impossible. Below are some simple ways to maintain good nutritional habits while on the road.

1. Packing for a healthy start - simply planning ahead can ensure that at least one-third of your meals will be healthy. Simply pack a handful of breakfast bars and have one in your room each morning before joining your co-workers for that free hash browns, bacon, and egg breakfast buffet downstairs. Once you join them, you can simply enjoy a cup of coffee while adding up the hundreds of calories you've managed to avoid.

In addition, pack yourself a good multi-vitamin to take daily. The wear and tear of long plane trips, longer meetings, and late nights can take their toll. Take preventative measures to keep your immune system well-armed.

2. Stay away from the snacks - when tempted with a table full of salty chips and sweet delights, stay away! You can't eat just one! If you find yourself tempted, grab yet another bottle of water and keep focused. Those chips can be a slippery slope, bowl after bowl.

Of course, an exception can be made if you spot fruits and carrot sticks up on that table. If that's the case, enjoy.

3. Do you really want that whole cookie? - when helping yourself to that tray of brownies or cookies, break yourself off a big enough piece to enjoy and wrap the rest in a napkin. Either throw the napkin away immediately or, if you trust yourself, promise yourself you won't touch the rest until you get a chance to discreetly dump it. Don't feel guilty - it's just business.

4. Do what you can at lunch and dinner - quite simply, you probably won't have as much control over lunch and dinner. You may find sandwiches brought in at lunch or have a group dinner at a mexican restaurant. Work within your boundaries, try to order something reasonably healthy (think chicken breast, veggies, ...), and don't stress yourself out about it.

There is no need to drive yourself nuts with a super-strict diet when you are on the road. Follow these simple tips and you should be able to maintain a reasonably healthy diet on your next trip.