| It was my birthday recently and all my friends had | | | | picnic tables. |
| been telling me that this is a significant one. For some | | | | 3. Don't let boredom lead to overeating. Long hours of |
| reason, from the time we turn 25, every five years is | | | | travel by air or car can lead to boredom snacking. |
| supposed to be this big important number. Well, I'm not | | | | Make sure you have lots of things to entertain |
| going to tell you which denomination of 5 I reached, but | | | | yourself; a great book, books on tape if driving, an iPod |
| OK, it was a BIG birthday! | | | | or MP3 loaded with your favorite music, magazines |
| I love that I was born in July. My birthday always falls | | | | with crosswords or Sudoku puzzles, or your laptop |
| right around our vacation time. My husband is also a | | | | computer. |
| Cancer, so the whole month feels like celebration and | | | | 4. Before leaving for your trip, call the hotel and |
| vacation. And just like everyone else, our celebrations | | | | request that they empty the mini-bar or supply you |
| are often centered around food. | | | | with a small, empty refrigerator so you can load it with |
| Over the holiday weekend, saying happy birthday to | | | | water and healthy snacks. If they can't accommodate |
| America and me, we had a small group of very close | | | | you, refuse the mini-bar key when you check in to |
| friends together for a gourmet dinner. Last night, hubby | | | | avoid temptation. |
| took me for a quiet celebration alone to one of our | | | | 5. Explore the surroundings and visit local fruit and |
| favorite Manhattan restaurants. And next week, we | | | | vegetable markets, if possible on foot or bicycle. This |
| leave on vacation to CA where we will celebrate his | | | | way you get some exercise after sitting for so long |
| birthday at the food and wine festival in Santa | | | | during travel, and get to stock your hotel room with |
| Barbara. | | | | healthy choices. Many hotels rent bicycles and can tell |
| Well, that's a lot of food, fine wine, and fun! Add to it | | | | you the fun, gourmet groceries and fruit stands that |
| the other 6 days we'll be eating out and on the road; it | | | | the locals patronize. |
| could be a scary number on the scale come August | | | | 6. When eating out, enjoy the experience, but apply the |
| 1st! However, long ago I decided that I was not going | | | | same healthy habits you've adopted at home. Ask for |
| to ruin vacations or celebrations feeling guilty, worrying | | | | dressings on the side, choose baked, broiled and grilled, |
| about gaining weight or lapsing in my exercise | | | | load up on fresh veggies asking that they be steamed |
| program. | | | | or very lightly sauteed in olive oil, and stop eating when |
| I've come up with some strategies to continue eating | | | | satisfied rather than stuffed. If your hotel has a |
| healthy while away, still enjoy myself and not feel | | | | microwave, you can even take the left-overs back for |
| deprived. I never want to freak out when I see the | | | | lunch the next day. |
| scale upon return, requiring the rest of the summer to | | | | 7. Enjoy the local delicacies guilt free by sampling |
| be about taking off excess weight. I hope these tips | | | | rather than feasting. Who wouldn't want to enjoy |
| will help you eat healthy on your next vacation. | | | | chocolate souffle in Paris, benoits in New Orleans, |
| Wherever your travels take you, even if it's just to the | | | | fondue in Switzerland, or a clam bake by the shore? |
| backyard with family and friends, may you have the | | | | But making them a constant diet and overindulging |
| best time! | | | | every day of your trip will surely lead to feelings of guilt |
| Tips for Eating Healthy While on Vacation. | | | | and the desire for a crash diet upon returning home |
| 1. Plan ahead to have healthy foods and snacks for | | | | (which, of course, I never recommend!) |
| traveling. If you are flying to reach your destination, | | | | 8. Don't drink your calories with exotic poolside |
| don't depend on airport and airplane food. Bring your | | | | cocktails, or indulge in happy hour 7 days in a row. |
| own sandwiches, salads and/or healthy snacks, or | | | | Most people are shocked to find out the calorie count |
| choose wisely in the airport. Many airlines still allow a | | | | of many alcoholic beverages, some adding up to more |
| request for special meals when traveling internationally, | | | | than should be taken in an entire meal. Stick to wine, |
| but usually require at least 48 hours notice. Check your | | | | light beer, or simple mixes of 4 ounces of alcohol |
| carrier in advance and if available request lo-cal, lo-fat | | | | mixed with seltzer, diet soda, or a splash of lite juices. |
| and lo-cholesterol choices. | | | | Eating healthy should be a way of life with occasional |
| 2. For road trips, pack a cooler with fresh fruits, low-fat | | | | indulgences built in. But a week vacation, filled with |
| cheese sticks, granola bars, whole grain crackers, trail | | | | every meal and snack eaten out, a drastic increase in |
| mix and of course, plenty of water. Roadside rest | | | | alcohol, bread at every meal, and desserts will surely |
| stops are notorious for high fat, high calorie foods and | | | | lead to disaster on the scale when you are back |
| finding nutritious selections can be challenging. But if you | | | | home. Make sure you return from your vacations |
| have your own foods, you can take advantage of | | | | feeling resting, rejuvenated, healthy and loaded with an |
| their tables, and in good weather many even have | | | | excess of great memories rather than pounds! |