Travel Healthy: Tips for Taking Your Family’s Healthy Lifestyle With You on Holidays
Summer holidays are approaching and whether you are planning a week at the cottage or a plane ride to an exotic countryside, you will want to stay healthy while away! Vacations can be a nice break from your regular routine and provide opportunity to try new things, but keeping a few essentials in mind will help you enjoy your health as well as your holiday!
7 Healthy Travel Must-Haves
Water Bottle
Bring it! Hotels, resorts, restaurants, airplanes and cottages usually have jugs of filtered water on hand. Keep your water bottle close at all times and fill up whenever you can throughout the day while travelling and relaxing!
Snacks
Make them! Before your trip, whip together your own homemade version of trail mix with whole grain, low sugar cereals, raisins and almonds, and store in resealable bags. Bake some healthy banana oat cookies for the plane and cut up fresh fruit and veggies for the car ride. Even take a few empty ziploc bags with you to grab a few extra healthy snacks for later.
Running Shoes
Pack them! For every member of your family! Plan to get active on your vacation. Slip in a run before breakfast, a game of tennis before lunch, a hike after dinner. Staying active keeps you healthy and makes all the relaxing more rewarding!
Sun Protection
Do it! Vacations are not all about the tan. Make sure you are using a good quality sunscreen, reapplying after swimming and wearing hats and finding shade. All the healthy benefits from the sun can be found in Vitamin D supplements so make sure you cover up to prevent sun damage.
Vitamins
Don’t forget them! A break from routine is wonderful, but a break from taking vitamins can be unhealthy. Keep your immune system strong with Vitamins D, Multi, and Omega 3s, keep your energy up with B Vitamins and make sure kids are getting enough Calcium if milk is not on the vacation menu.
Sleep
Get lots! If you are travelling to a different time zone, try to get the kids sleep pattern adjusted a few days before hand. This avoids being sleep deprived (and grumpy) for the first few days of your vacation!
Restaurant Rules
Plan them! French fries, ice cream brownies, and Shirley temples are all fun treats, but if you are at All-You-Can-Eat buffets, or restaurants while on vacation, too many treat days in a row may not be so healthy. Plan to have vegetables and fruit every day and ensure there is protein at every meal. Make treat foods, a treat – even on vacation.
Pack it, plan it, bring it, drink it, eat it and ENJOY it! Have a healthy & happy summer, where ever your vacation may take you!
Deb Lowther is a mother of 3 young daughters who, when not running after the kids, is running in the trails! She blogs about Raising Healthy Kids and ensures her own have fun while eating healthy & staying active. You can visit her websites to learn more www.iron-kids.com & www.adultgummies.com
