Health Tips: How to stay healthy on holiday

Holidays are supposed to be about indulging in everything, aren’t they?

Treating yourself to some well-deserved R&R after a couple of intense months at work, lying in a horizontal position in the sun, knocking back the odd midday glass of wine and an ice cream.

This package of bliss tends to throw healthy eating and exercise habits off track, so we’ve dug out top tips for staying healthy on holiday.

1. Attitude matters: Healthy eating is not all about lettuce and lentils, missing meals and missing out. It’s about what you eat, not what you don’t. You want to enjoy your break so don’t put pressure on your body by eating badly.

2. Mind over matter: Focus on all the hard work you’ve done to lose weigh and vow not to undo it in the space of two weeks. Don’t crash diet to make room for weight gain while you’re away, you’ll gain it back twice as quickly.

3. On Holiday food is everywhere: kiosks at the beach, breakfast buffet spreads, kebabs outside the club. You don’t have to accept food every time it’s offered!
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4. Balance high and low calorie meals throughout the day: It’s fine to start with a mixed grill if you cut back at lunch or dinner.

5. Carry foods with you if you'll be travelling for long periods of time or through mealtimes: That way you will not be tempted by high fat snacks or meals at the airport or on the road-side cafes.

6. Avoid eating while driving: It’s way too easy to munch your way through a bag of sweets when you’re on auto-pilot and bored.

7. Be careful of your meal selections at restaurants: Avoid fried or fatty foods and treat yourself to a starter or dessert, not both.

8. Bring fresh fruit with you to the beach as a snack: The only snacks available are often ice creams or crisps. If you leave it to chance you might find yourself being tempted by those delicious fatty treats mid-afternoon.

9. All that free time is a perfect opportunity for extra exercise: Walk on the beach, in soft sand it can end up being a good workout. Or maybe get involved in some of the water sports – like water skiing, wind sailing and canoeing – that are usually offered at resorts.

10. If you drank water all week: it’d prove a perfect way to stay hydrated and healthy, but probably not be so much fun.. Choose diet drinks if you have a soft drink and alternate alcohol and water throughout the evening to limit your intake.