There are Many Pitfalls to Eating Healthy When Traveling for Extended Periods
For health-conscious individuals who are particular about the types and amounts of food they consume, following a daily/weekly routine can often prove beneficial. Taking meals at roughly the same time every day, avoiding the temptation/convenience of fast foods, and buying groceries from the same vendors each week are some of the habits that can help people maintain healthy diets in the face of busy schedules at work and at home.
This does not mean that they have to be regimented to the point of boredom/monotony with their diets or that they can never indulge in fine dining or attend a catered function; in fact, these types of events can still be enjoyed to the fullest, provided some attention is directed to what and how much one eats and drinks.
Where all of the above can unravel however, are those times when people are away from home for an extended period, such as a personal vacation or a business trip. Travel can play havoc with a healthy eating routine from several perspectives, including:
- The overall quantities of food and beverages available
- The number of meals per day; the timing of those meals
- The types of foods – cultural options, local favourites, desserts
- Decreased emphasis on and/or availability of certain food groups
- More arranged or restaurant meals, thus more salt, fat, and calories
Fortunately, by adopting and adhering to a few travel-diet suggestions from the nutrition education specialists at an online institute of holistic nutrition, like the Edison Institute of Nutrition in Toronto, you can continue to eat healthy while travelling and still thoroughly enjoy your vacations or have successful outcomes to those business trips.
Edison Institute of Holistic Nutrition: Keeping Routine in Your Diet While Away
For travelers who are worried about straying from their healthy eating habits while away from home for several days or longer, the nutrition education specialists from the Edison Institute of Nutrition, an online school based in Toronto, offer the following tips/advice to help them keep some routine and balance in their diets:
- Meal Frequency: maintain a schedule of three meals daily, at intervals roughly 5 to six hours apart; this will provide your body with the food intake structure it knows and needs to keep pace with all of the planned activities each day
- Do Not Compensate: skipping breakfast or lunch on days after high-calorie dinners does more harm than good from a nutritional perspective; it slows the metabolism, thus burning fewer calories and storing fat, and it can actually stimulate over-eating again at the next meal
- Fibre Consumption: fibre can often be lacking in one’s diet when they are traveling, yet it is an important element in slowing digestion and feeling full longer; some fibre-boosting suggestions while away include additional vegetables, whole grains, beans, and lentils – fresh fruit would also be an excellent choice as a snack food
- Hydration: drink a sufficient amount of water while away, especially in hot climates and/or if walking/exercise levels are higher than usual; dehydration can make people feel hungry and cause them to eat between scheduled meal times to quell any pangs
- Alcohol Consumption: yes, it is allowed, but it should be consumed in moderation; alcohol has a higher caloric content than solid food and thus should be limited to two standard-size drinks per day for men and one such drink for women. Drinking water at the same as an alcoholic beverage can slow or reduce overall alcohol consumption while also adhering to the hydration needs noted above
- Enjoy the Experience: whether traveling for work or pleasure, it should provide the opportunity to indulge in some local cuisine and culture; depriving oneself completely essentially defeats the purpose of getting away, so feel free to try new and different foods – just do it in moderation (remember, the word is indulge, not over-indulge)
Holistic Nutrition Education and Certification through Online Training Courses
If you are interested in learning more about eating healthy foods and how this relates to achieving a better overall state of health, our institute of holistic nutrition offers several nutrition training courses and education programs via online study, all supported by our experienced faculty.
The Edison Institute of Nutrition is recognized as a leading distance learning school for holistic nutrition courses in Canada; based on your specific interests in terms of nutrition education, you can pursue online studies in such areas as:
- Gaining an understanding of holistic nutrition
- How nutrition affects your mood and overall health
- Acting as a holistic nutrition consultant for family/friends
- Attaining your diploma and a certification in holistic nutrition
For additional information on our nutrition training courses, or to learn more about how to achieve your formal holistic nutrition education and certification through online study, call the Edison Institute of Nutrition today at or contact us to speak with an educational advisor or instructor.
