How many of you struggle to stay healthy on vacation? Though I always say yes to the occasional indulgences here and there, especially when one is on holiday, I do agree that summer can be tricky, as many of us are away for weeks at a time, travelling with little ones, living out of suitcases and staying in hotels. At some point, the overindulgences do start to feel a bit tedious, yet we can’t help but give into them.

So, how do we stop? Or at least find some balance between staying healthy and having fun? After all, holidays cannot be an excuse for us to forget about our health! Though many of you may be halfway through your vacations by now, it is never too late to start! Not sure how? no worries, check out our tips below.

8 Ways to Eat Healthy when Travelling & Staying in a Hotel

1. Prepare a grocery list; think and shop smart: Though most hotel rooms have a mini fridge, many of them don’t offer much space, so consider items that will keep well at room temperature, and only buy what you need and never too much of it – be conscious of the fact that most of your meals will be consumed out, and your shopping list (to begin with) should be limited to healthy snacks and bites.
2. Pack ONLY healthy snacks: If you need time to ease into your vacation, and have no desire to immediately rush straight to the nearest supermarket, then come prepared. Have a few healthy snacks stowed away in your suitcase that you and your kids can munch on for a couple of days before heading out to the shops. Just remember to keep the chocolates, cookies and crisps at home!
3. Make use of your hotel’s facilities: If you’re travelling with little kids or would like to have at least one homemade meal a day, then find out ahead of time if your room has a pantry/kitchenette area, a microwave oven or if you can, upgrade to a room that offers these things. This would be a huge help, and would make meal prepping, shopping and cooking so much easier and less stressful.
4. Keep it Simple: If you do plan on cooking or preparing meals in the hotel, stick to healthy, but easy-to-make recipes that require minimal ingredients. This is after all, a temporary set up, and you don’t want to be left throwing most of it away when it comes time to go home.
5. Find a balance: Ensure all your hotel meal choices are healthy, so that you feel less guilt and more enjoyment when you eat out – you are, after all, still on vacation!
6. Room Service is OKAY: If you really aren’t bothered to cook, or shop, or prep, then room service could work too. Just opt for slightly healthier options and if you’re tired of ordering chicken nuggets for the kids, go for a single a la carte Main and split it between them! If there’s too much left over, keep it in the fridge and reheat the next day.
7. Check out the buffet: If your hotel offers breakfast, always scan before you leave and grab a few things for later; some fruit, milk, granola, yogurt – anything you can store away and pull out later should any of you be hungry, or hangry in between meals! If your hotel offers an all-day-dining buffet, opt for some light grilled meats and take your time at the salad bar; an easy way to ensure you’re getting your greens.
8. Lastly, if this works for you, then be sure to plan ahead for future trips – Nothing like a bit of organisation to help minimise the stress!

We hope that’s helpful, but in the meantime if you have any tips on how to stay ‘hotel-healthy’, please let us know!