We all love to go on a vacation and when we are on a healthy eating plan, we wonder how we are going to be able to stick to it while we are away from our homes. This is not a legitimate reason to scrap your healthy eating habits as there are ways that you can keep your eating under control and still enjoy yourself and stay on track while you are on vacation. I do not think that anyone wants to return home to discover that they have put on 3 or 4 extra pounds of weight. Here are a few ideas that will help you to eat healthy while at the same time not feel like you are being rationed.

Do not waste calories on things such as salty potato chips at the airports or a donut at the local coffee shop when you are traveling. Pack healthy snacks and take them with you or purchase them when you arrive and that way when you get hungry or a food craving, you will have something healthy to tide you over until the next meal. By eating healthy snacks, you will leave yourself the option of having something special for dinner or dessert.

It is a fact of life that when you are traveling, you are going to be eating in restaurants and this is part of the experience and the fun. The problem is that most restaurants serve enormous servings that are packed with fat and calories that you would not normally get if you were cooking at home. Instead of limiting yourself to garden salads, share your meal with another member of your vacationing party. You may still end up eating food that is not that healthy for you, but at least you will not be eating the entire serving yourself.

Make sure that you go easy on the alcohol as consuming too many drinks will greatly increase your daily calorie intake. A drink like a classic margarita will contain several hundred calories. One of your best options is to try to limit yourself to a cocktail every other day while you are vacationing. If you simply and positively have to have a drink each and every day, limit your consumption to one and switch from a cocktail to wine or a light beer. You should still drink plenty of water just like when you are home to keep your body hydrated and to curb food cravings.

It is also a good idea to split desserts just like we discussed splitting meals earlier. That way, you can still have a piece of the pie and eat it to and not over indulge or get the feeling that you are being deprived of a special treat or reward.

Try to avoid fast food restaurants if you can. This is a very difficult task as they are everywhere that you are when you are traveling. If you are in a hurry or have limited options, they can be very convenient and tempting to use.

You should try to plan ahead if possible. If you are traveling cross- country, pack fruit and sandwiches in your cooler. If you are flying, you can always find a store that sells fruit , yogurt or packaged salads. By making smart choices on ordinary meals, you will be able to splurge a little with dinner or dessert.

Please remember that just because you are going on a vacation, you do not need to throw your healthy eating habits to the side of the road. By eating healthy most of the time, you will not feel guilty when you reward yourself at dinner.

I hope that you enjoyed this article and if you would like some great information to help you live a long and healthy life, please visit my eating healthy web site where you will find some great free tips to help you live a long and healthy life.