Regardless of the length of the trip or the exotic nature of the location, it is always difficult to eat healthy when traveling. Whether it is having to grab a quick bite at the airport or train station, eating a meal while sightseeing, or eating the local cuisine, healthy options are either not readily available or your eyes naturally shift to the more decadent options. Believe it or not, we always weigh ourselves before we leave on a trip and then compare it when we return so that we know whether we need to work on losing any weight we might have gained.
Although it isn’t always easy to find healthy options when traveling, that doesn’t mean that it is impossible. We love seafood and can’t always get a good variety at home, so one thing that we do is to look for fish or shellfish on the menu and try to select dishes that aren’t necessarily covered in a sauce. Another trick that we use is to share a meal or eat small plates to avoid over eating. Eating healthy doesn’t mean not eating things with flavor, it is more a matter of paying attention to how the food is prepared and whether the restaurant uses fresh ingredients.
We try to be realistic and understand that we will want to eat a variety of food some of which is going to be fried, smothered in a rich sauce, or covered in cheese and we are okay with that. As with anything, it is really a question of moderation. For example, just because you are in Italy doesn’t mean that every dish has to be pasta or pizza. We are firm believers of eating like a local, but that doesn’t mean that locals don’t have some healthy choices. What do you do to eat healthy when you are on the road?
I don’t know about healthy. But your food looks freakin delicious!
We love to eat and try different foods 🙂
I’m perhaps unusual in that I really love salads, fruits, and vegetables. Don’t get me wrong, I also love pastas, breads, and desserts. I just try to strike a balance between what I eat and I also stay active whether on vacation or not.
That is the key, balancing what you eat 🙂
Holy cow this food looks good! I am dying for some fish now….with some french onion soup on the side. I don’t travel, but when I go out to eat I also look for food not covered in sauce. Fresh fish and vegetables are the best.
🙂
I have found that young people are opening cafes in cities all over the world that have inventive, healthy dishes at reasonable prices, provide lots of vegetarian options and focus on local products. For example, in Lima, it’s Barranca. In New Orleans, it’s the Warehouse District. In Athens, Psyrri. So when I am researching where to eat, I head for the neighborhoods where the kids hang out! I also make a point to stay in places with kitchens when possible so I can avoid all the meals out.
We always ask the locals where they eat, they know the best kept secrets :). We also try to get a place with a kitchen and try to cook some meals as well.