Tips for eating healthy on the road Athens ● Crete ● Cyclades ● Thessaloniki ● Thessaly ● FILL YOUR BATTERIES IMPROVE YOUR APPEARANCE Don’t we all keep wondering why we gained a few pounds after our holiday? Not having a schedule and saying yes to every strange food experience we encounter is the reason! As we plan our short trips to nearby beaches or longer journeys throughout summer, we are expecting to relax and let the stress of everyday life aside. During this time, we do not want to feel pressured in any way. This tends to affect our diet on holidays. Most of the times, after swimming and relaxing on the beach we tend to consume frequently a variety of snacks and drinks. Let's look at some dietary choices we can make and which can help us enjoy our holidays without burdening our health or increasing our weight.
First of all, have in mind that you should start your day with a good breakfast, ideally containing 1 serving of dairy, 1-2 servings of bread or cereals and fruit. For instance, you could try the following: 1 glass of milk or 1 serving of yoghurt, 1 bun of sesame seeds, 1 fruit or 1 glass of fresh juice. We recommend that you avoid eating cakes, pizzas, croissants or breakfast rolls.
Be cautious to eat reasonable portions of food and make sure there is a balance between your meals. If, for example, you intend to eat at a restaurant or a tavern in the evening, you could choose a light meal. You might choose a salad, toast or sandwich accompanied by fresh vegetables and cheese. Or you could even have a plate of roasted turkey or chicken at noon within the same day. Remember that when your lunch is full, your dinner should be lighter.
When your accommodation doesn’t include a kitchenette, make sure that the meal you order at the restaurant or the hotel consists of dishes that do not contain fried foods or foods that add heavy sauce and unnecessary fats. Avoid food that is creamy as well. You can complete your dish by adding a season salad of your preference, making it easier to swallow and get all the useful vitamins and antioxidants that your body needs.
If you get hungry while at the beach, instead of biscuits, croissants, crepes and chocolates you could choose to have one of the following as a snack: small quantity of fresh fruit, rye crackers, breadcrumbs, cereal bars, unsalted nuts. Foods that are very rich in animal fat and sugar shouldn’t make it to the top of your list. In case you want to taste some ice cream, do pick a low-fat sorbet or classic ice cream, but consume it in moderation. Be careful with the over-consumption of alcoholic beverages. During the hot summer days make sure that you are adequately hydrated with water and fresh fruit or fruit juices. Leave out the ones with added sugar. Always make choices that are consistent with the principles of a balanced diet. During the summer months, the risk of dehydration is greater (increased sweating due to the warm environment). For this reason, our needs for increased fluids reach up to or exceed the amount of 2 litres per day. Of course, this always depends on our activity, as well as the extent of our exposure to heat.
No matter where you are, there is definitely something to visit or explore. Museums or other attractions can help you fill your day. The opportunities for activities are plenty, choose the one that appeals to you best. You can simply start walking and burn those calories.
It goes without saying that you may consume certain foods or sweets of your liking. As long as you do it with measure, it will not affect your diet. Keep in mind that if you combine the above practices with some physical activity like swimming, cycling, and walking, you can actually benefit from this period. Have a happy summer everyone!