By Staff
So summertime is almost here and for many that means a lot of traveling and vacation.
With traveling and vacation comes long car rides and plane trips. Those long trips can lead to a lot of eating and not usually healthy eating.
Many of us are not eating because they are hungry. It is because those trips get boring so you eat to pass the time or because you stop to get gas and see all of those tempting treats or you walk past those great tasting cinnamon rolls at the airport and you just cannot resist. Let's look at some ways to overcome those food-traveling urges.
Driving to your destination:
You're driving along and stop at a rest stop to get gasoline and stretch.
You are not hungry but once you walk into that rest stop you see all of that inviting food just waiting for you to buy.
So you buy it, get into the car, and next thing you know you have drank that 20-ounce pop and scarfed down that bag of potato chips.
Did you need to eat those junk food calories - no! Not only did you not need those extra calories but that kind of food may end up making you tired while driving.
Instead of filling up on junk food at every rest stop think ahead. Pack a cooler with healthy foods in it.
If you find yourself eating when you are not hungry or because you are bored then distract yourself. Turn up the radio and sing a song.
Avoid that urge to eat just because you are bored on your long trip - wait until you are hungry and save your waistline a few hundred calories.
Waiting for your flight to take off:
You have one of those famous two-hour plane delays and nothing to do. You start to walk to use the restroom and you smell those famous cinnamon rolls.
You try to tell yourself you do not need it until at that moment someone walks past you eating one. You give in and devour one of those good yet very fattening rolls. Even if you are hungry just remember those rolls will not fill you up for long.
Within an hour or so you will be wanting another one. Instead of giving in, talk to yourself about avoiding the cinnamon rolls.
Use the restroom like you planned and then go back to where your bags are. Have a snack packed in your bag to curb that urge. With all this extra time waiting for the plane get in some exercise and take a walk.
During your flight:
You're on your three-hour flight and they are serving dinner (remember you have already had a couple bags of peanuts and a pop).
Even though they may not give you much to eat what they do give you is not the healthiest.
Eat carefully or pass on the whole airplane meal together. If you are hungry eat your pre-packed snack such as a peanut butter sandwich, granola bar or baby carrots. Drink water or juice instead of two cans of pop.
With the airplane meal, a few pops, and a couple bags of peanuts you have already downed over 1000 calories. See if the plane has any type of healthy choice foods you could pick from.
When you are traveling whether it is by car or plane be prepared for those food urges that creep about. People pack on enough extra pounds during vacation - you do not want to start before you even get there.
Thought of the week: Will power can be a key to success.