When I was traveling in Austria, Hungary, and Germany recently for ten short days, I didn’t restrict my diet in the least.
I ate a huge breakfast. I stuffed myself, making sure I was very full every morning. Then I had a light lunch, like a latte, or just a little snack of something, and then I ate to my heart’s content whenever I could for dinner.
I don’t recommend this approach, however, because I was always just short of falling into a food coma 
When traveling there are numerous foods that one may happen across, starting each morning at the hotel’s complimentary breakfast.
This included breakfast where any attempt at a healthy diet is first doomed. That continental breakfast does not take into consideration jet lag, the amount of walking you will do while sightseeing that day, or your normal eating cycle. Or the fact that our bodies are likely out of whack while traveling.
The way you eat when you travel overseas could make your experience a more enjoyable one.
How? Eat for health and the culture around you when traveling.
Here are 8 Tips to Healthier Eating While Traveling Overseas:
1. Eat only when you are hungry. Time lapse, and availability of food, will cause you to either over-eat or be too hungry throughout the day, it’s always better to wait until you are hungry to eat.
2. It is always better to eat high protein and fatty meals in the morning. Providing that the meats are fresh and the fat is a good type of fat (No hydrogenous oils). This will make you feel fuller for longer, and, in my experience, helps when you are walking around a lot or know that you won’t be eating again for a long while.
3. Take advantage of the salad bars and the fruit. After long flights you aren’t going to feel very fresh. Eating salads and fruits will get you back to where you need to be. 
4. Avoid sweets at everyday meals and save dessert for when it is a special occasion. You’ll know when it is the time to overstuff and splurge on calories. I tend to save these meals when it is traditional cuisine, not on meals that I have already had before.
5. Find a good exercise routine. Whether you are on a cruise, walking through a city, or climbing up a mountain, make sure that you get a good amount of exercise in so that you can eat a little more at meals.
6. Remember that you don’t have to eat out. You are perfectly able to go to a nearby grocery store to get healthier and cheaper food for yourself if you would like. This gives you more control over your diet and allows you to know what you are putting into your body.
7. Eat with people who share the same eating habits as you. This helps ensure that you won’t overeat and make better eating choices.
8. Pack snacks. Remember how I said that your eating schedule will be a little wonky? Packing snacks will help keep your blood sugar level so that you don’t go into a food coma after you first meal.
Doing these eight simple tips could allow you that extra energy boost on your trip and keep you fit and active for when you return home.
What helps you stay fit and healthy and full of energy when you are traveling? Have any quick tips of your own?
This post is written by Megan Bryde, a forever student of the world while also finishing up her bachelors in English at Truman State University this semester.
Involved in too many activities, she sings as loud as she can, writes, cooks, bakes, and drinks a lot of coffee.
Megan is currently completing an internship with VentureTime Travel and aspires to be teaching English someday.
For more ideas on how to eat healthy while traveling, check out these links….
- How to eat healthy while traveling
- Eating Well and Staying Active While Traveling
- 15 Tips To Eating Healthy While You Travel
If your travel will include a cruise, check out this post: