HOW TO ENJOY FOOD AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY EATING HABITS WHILE TRAVELING

Have you had the experience where you’re preparing for a trip by eating healthier so you can feel like your best self while you’re traveling, yet you’re also super excited to try tasty new food at your destination?

It’s possible to maintain healthy eating habits while also having fun during your travels! All it takes is some planning and mindfulness. Here’s how.

Build a Deficit Before the Trip

First, I encourage living in the moment—for your life as it unfolds right now. You know that you want to eat a little more than usual while traveling, so prepare for it. Build a deficit. For example, eat lightly for 1-2 weeks before your trip. Eat smaller portions, less fats and sweets, fewer snacks.

Choose Appetizer Portion Sizes or Share Dishes

When you travel, avoid main course portions. Have a starter or appetizer, then ask for your main course to be an appetizer-sized portion or split a dish. You can have a light dessert or share a dessert with your companion.

This way, you reduce how much you eat while still enjoying the variety of flavors that are part of the culture and location you’re exploring.

Eat Mindfully and Carry Snacks

Bring your full attention to whatever you are about to enjoy. Notice the presentation, take in different scents, savor flavors. Really appreciate the variety of senses that eating stimulates. Take your time to really experience and enjoy every bite. Maybe note your favorite foods and flavors. I know that after I travel, I always bring a few more influences into my home cooking because I discovered that I really enjoy certain spices or flavors. 

For example, I loved Kalamata olives in Greece and fresh oregano. Yum! Now I’m working on adding more Kalamata olives to my daily life because they’re delicious and healthy. The dried, wild oregano in Greece is also amazing. Now I bring that into more of my meals because I saw all the different ways I could spice foods.

Slow down your eating and notice the experience. Mindless eating leads to overeating.

Also be sure to carry SNACKS! If you wait too long between eating, you become overly hungry and will eat more than you want.

Explore Difficult Emotions

If you notice difficult emotions come up around food and eating, try taking the opportunity to explore what may be triggers for you that make eating emotionally challenging. 

Eating can be one of the most emotionally laden experiences that is rooted in childhood. For example, you may have had a parent who made you eat everything on your plate, or knew someone who made you feel guilty if you didn’t eat what they made. 

There can be a lot of emotional pressures around what to eat. Use triggers that you notice to get in touch with those emotions. I encourage you to use the free guided journal I created for you, Your Path to Inner Peace, to help explore those feelings and work through them.

Keep these tips in mind when planning for a future trip and traveling. Be intentional with your eating and you’ll be sure to enjoy your travel even more while honoring your body!