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Healthy Habits on the Road
This document provides tips for staying healthy while traveling. It recommends preparing before trips by checking hotel fitness facilities and packing healthy snacks and exercise gear. While on the road, it suggests eating a diet focused on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and avoiding sugary foods. For exercise, it recommends walking or doing body weight exercises in hotels, at airports, and during rest stops. It also stresses the importance of sleep, stress management, and finding travel companions to help make healthy choices while away from home.
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Healthy Habits on the Road
- 1. Jill Bures andGina Williams STAYING HEALTHY ON THE ROAD
- 3. OVERVIEW Prepare Beforeyou Leave What to Eat What to Do How to Deal
- 4. BEFORE YOU LEAVE Check hotel site for fitness facility Pack comfortable exercise gear Bring small cooler for snacks If you are running on your own: bring phone, whistle, etc. Accountability- find a workout buddy Planning is ESSENTIAL
- 5. WHAT TO EAT In Hotel Cereal with low fat milk Fresh fruit Yogurt Oatmeal Omelet with veggies Whole wheat toast/muffin Avoid muffins, sweet rolls, sugary cereal
- 6. WHAT TO EAT In the Car Water Fruitand veggies Granola bars String cheese Whole grain chips/crackers Nuts like almonds, cashews, walnuts Sandwiches on whole grain bread, PB & J/lean meat
- 7. WHAT TO EAT At College Fair Water, avoid sugary pop Whole grain sandwiches Use mustard instead of mayo Fresh and veggies, avoid chips Skip the cookies and desserts Don’t arrive starving
- 8. WHAT TO EAT At Restaurants Water Build own sandwiches, Subway / Quiznos Soup and salad, avoid high fat options Choose grilled meats over fried Veggies instead of fries Skip dessert, select fruit Leftovers for next night Fast food vs. local market
- 9. WHAT TO DO Driving, Rest Stop, Walk and Stretch Flying, Walk the airport Stretch on Plane
- 10. WHAT TO DO In Hotel Use fitness facility or pool Ask for safe area to run/walk Walk to locate restaurant Run/walk the stairs YouTube video workouts Exercise in room
- 11. WHAT TO DO Sample Exercise Routine Jumping Jacks Sit Ups Push ups Jump Rope Bands
- 12. HOW TO DEAL LONG Days during Travel Season Stay organized, set goals Treat Your Body Right Sleep and nap Exercise Eat healthy Carry hand sanitizer
- 13. HOW TO DEAL Find Travel Buddies Dinner or movie Attend a fair or festival Share stories Workout buddy Find Something Relaxing Read a book Listen to music Soak in a tub Mediate Do something for YOURSELF
- 14. HAVE FUN ANDSTAY HEALTHY ON THE ROAD Fast Food calorie information Fast Food Calories by nanobitsoftware.com (free) available at iTunes http://www.calorieking.com/foods/ Fitness YouTube Videos Dorm Room Workout Videos by Exercise TV SparkPeople.com, 10 minutes toning videos
Editor's Notes
- #5 Visit your hotel’s website to find out if they offer fitness facilities, any extra charges, or safe parks/preserves to walk or runPack comfortable pair of walking/running shoes, bathing suit, exercise bands, jump rope
- #6 At the hotel continental breakfast bar:Choose a whole grain cereal with low-fat milk.Fresh fruit gives you vitamins and fiber.Yogurt or hard-boiled eggs are good sources of protein.Avoid sugary muffins, sweet-rolls, and pre-sweetened cereal.
- #7 Eat healthy snacks in the car:Load up on fresh-cut vegetables and fruit. Bring along a small cooler with ice packs to keep your snacks fresh.Bring plenty of water. It will keep you hydrated and, if you spill it, won't stain the upholstery like sodas.Individually wrapped portions of string cheese or vegetarian cheese alternatives can be kept in the cooler with the fruit and vegetables. They are a great source of calcium and protein.Bring baked whole grain crackers along on your trip. This is good for added fiber and nutrients.Don't overindulge in greasy chips. There are baked varieties that have a lot less unhealthy fats. You need to watch how much you eat of those too, however, since they don't offer much in the way of nutrition.You can also pack sandwiches made with whole grain bread and peanut butter or lean meats. Keep these in the cooler, too.Nuts such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts contain polyunsaturated fats and are easy to take on a trip in either individual bags or larger containers.
- #9 Healthy eating in restaurants:Order a soup or a salad to eat with your main course. Soups and salads are generally healthy and start to fill you up so that you eat less of the more calorie-dense main meal.Skip the entrée altogether. Soup and salad might be enough for a healthy meal.Split a meal with your dining partner. Most restaurants serve huge portions, so there is usually enough food to share. This saves calories and money. Besides, sharing eliminates the temptation to take leftovers back on the road, where they can't be properly stored.Select foods that are prepared with healthier, low-fat methods. Baked chicken is healthy, but fried chicken has too much fat.Eat the vegetables. Most entrées come with at least one vegetable. If not, be sure to order a vegetable side dish.Skip dessert, or choose some fruit. A full meal that ends with a sugary dessert may make you feel sleepy. That might be fine if you are passenger, but a bad idea if you are the driver.
- #10 At the Rest Stop If you drive for an extended time, be sure to take a break at a highway rest stop. Remember to: Be safe – watch out for cars moving through the parking lot. Do some gentle stretches (flexibility exercises). To learn more, go to http://nihseniorhealth.gov/exerciseforolderadults/flexibilityexercises/01.html Take a short walk either on a sidewalk or inside the building. At the Airport • Airport layovers can be a perfect time for physical activity. Here are some simple ways to move at the airport: Take a 10-minute walk around the airport. Walk and window shop. Take the stairs instead of the escalator. Walk while looking for healthy food choices. • For longer layovers, some airports now have physical activity facilities that offer a day passWhile on the planePlace your hands, palm up, on your knees. Raise your palms to your shoulders and back to your knees. Bicep curlsGently rotate the head from side to side, then gently forward (avoid rotating back). Raise your shoulders into a shrug, and then lower them. TrapsRaise both legs from the ground; then replace, Raise one leg at a time. Plant your heels on the floor, and raise and lower your toes. One foot at a time, “draw” circles while holding your foot just above the floor.
- #11 Ask the hotel staff if the area is safe for walking, nearby walking or running paths. • If the hotel does not have a pool or an activity room, try one of these ideas: Bring a jump rope in your suitcase. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, climb stairs for 15-30 minutesWalk to local attractions and restaurants. Do some jumping jacks, sit-ups, and push-ups.
- #12 Demonstrate some exercises
- #13 Travel season can be stressful.