Vacation Tips ROUNDUP

Eating Healthy While Traveling

It’s that time of year. The end of school is approaching. Some students are graduating and others are finishing up this school year. Some are celebrating the end of the year. Others are focused on new starts in the Fall. Either way, the end of school signifies the beginning of Summer! I always looked forward to Summer vacation with my family.

But, traveling can bring challenges for healthy eating. So, today we will discuss some ways to be healthy when you are traveling.

1) Pack healthy snacks

 It is great to have healthy options accessible. Plan to bring snacks for traveling and while on vacation. Think about healthy, portable snacks like: fruits, vegetables, peanut butter for dipping, low fat popcorn, etc.

2) Cook one meal at “home”

While on vacation, I would encourage you to cook or make one meal per day at your vacation home or hotel. This creates some normalcy to your eating routine and saves money. I usually think about packing or purchasing breakfast items that way your morning is easy and not rushed.

I also think making a picnic is a great vacation lunch idea. You can easily purchase or pack some picnic snacks. Picnics are a great way to enjoy your vacation surroundings. 

3) Incorporate physical activity into your vacation

Physical activity is a great way to see different cities while traveling. You can walk or bike around most cities hike in parks, swim on the beach.

Being physically active is one component of a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity can help offset some of the additional vacation calories that you will incur. So, make it fun! Incorporate some physical activity on your vacation and be active!

4) Enjoy your vacation

 All diets (aka eating patterns) should be flexible. Your diet should be a healthy pattern of eating that allows some flexibility. So, relax and enjoy your vacation!

I hope these ideas will make it easy for you and your family or friends to have a healthy vacation. What are your ideas for a healthy vacation? Share them with me on Instagram and Twitter. I would love to hear your tips on incorporating physical activity and healthy eating into your vacation.

Healthy Vacation: Be Physically Active

Good morning! This is the time of the year where students are taking finals, teachers are grading furiously, seniors are graduating, and many are planning summer vacations. My husband and I  are enjoying a beach vacation. How do you make a vacation fun and healthy? Here are a couple of my tips to a happy, healthy vacation.

• Be Physically Active
• Include physically activity into your vacation just like you do in your life.
• Walk to your destination instead of driving.
• Rent a bicycle if walking is too strenuous.
• Swim!
• Hike a mountain or trail.
• Play Frisbee on the beach.

Check out this post for more tips for eating healthy on vacation and . . .

• Packing Healthy Snacks
• Relaxing
• Splitting a Meal
• Packing a Picnic
• Hydration

I hope these ideas will make it easy for you and your family or friends to have a healthy vacation. What are your ideas for a healthy vacation? Share them with me on Instagram and Twitter. I would love to hear your tips on incorporating physical activity and healthy eating while on vacation.

6 Tips for a Healthy Vacation

Good morning! This is the time of the year where students are stressed taking finals, teachers are grading furiously, and many are planning summer vacations. My husband and I  are enjoying a beach vacation. How do you make a vacation fun and healthy? Here are a couple of my tips to a happy, healthy vacation.

• Pack Healthy Snacks
• Check out this post for ideas for healthy snacks.
• Relax
• We know stress is not healthy. You can read more here about the consequences of lack of sleep. Then, relax, rest up, and be healthy.
• Split a Meal
• This is an easy, economical way to be healthy. Most restaurant portions are notoriously large. So split and entree and add an extra salad or vegetable side.
• Pack a Picnic
• Picnics are a great way to get a variety of healthy foods. It is economical and fun! Simply visit a grocery store on vacation, pick up a checkered cloth, and enjoy time with your family.
• Hydrate
• We know hydration is important especially in the summer months. So, keep hydrated by keeping a water bottle handy for each member of your family. And, order water with meals, which is an easy, cheap, healthy choice.
• Be Physically Active
• Include physically activity into your vacation just like you do in your life. We will discuss more ways to include physical activity into your vacation later this week.

I hope these ideas will make it easy for you and your family or friends to have a healthy vacation. Stay tuned this week on Instagram, and Twitter for more tips on healthy eating while on vacation.

Easy Empanada Recipe and Chipotle Dip

This is a quick, easy weeknight dinner. Or you could serve these as a tasty appetizer depending on the size of your empanadas. Also, this is a great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Here's the recipe:

Easy Empanada

Filling:

1 1/2 cups chicken cooked and shredded

1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon Pepper
1/4 teaspoon Salt

10 dashes Chipotle hot sauce

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

2 ounces reduced fat cream cheese (neuftachel), room temperature

Dough

Pie Crust

All purpose flour

2 Tablespoons Milk

Chipotle Dipping Sauce

4 oz sour cream

10-15 dashes Chipotle hot sauce (depending on your spice tolerance)

1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder

Pepper to taste

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

• Mix the filling ingredients in one bowl. 
• Roll out pie dough on a lightly floured surface. Use a 4 inch cookie or biscuit cutter. If you don't have that, use a glass. Cut out 12-16 pie crust rounds. Place on a baking tray lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. 
• RDtip: Use a 1 Tablespoon scoop to put filling into each pie round. Be careful not to over-stuff the empanada. 
• Fold each piece of dough in half to make the circles into semi-circles. Use a fork to crimp the edges closed.
• Brush each empanada with milk to help it brown.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes on 400*F until the pie dough is crisp and golden brown.
• Mix all ingredients for the dipping sauce. 
• Enjoy!

For even more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

Television Appearance and Healthy Snack Series Roundup

The last television appearance I did was on healthy snacking. I wanted to share some of the tips that I shared in the interview. There are also some bonus tips for healthy eating. Check out the all of the television tips below.

Here are three tips for a successful, professional television appearance.

Check out the first segment for tips on eating healthy.

Click here for some examples of healthy snacks. 

And, how can can you eat healthy on the go?

I hope this is a helpful serious for you. My goal is to encourage healthy, easy, tasty snacks throughout the day. I hope you remember to E.A.T healthy year-round. And, I hope you remember to make healthy choices when you are busy and on-the-go. For even more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

Healthy Snacks T.V. Segment Part 3

The last television appearance I did was on healthy snacking. I wanted to share some of the tips that I shared in the interview. And, there are some bonus tips for healthy eating as well! Check out the first segment for tips on eating healthy and examples of healthy snacks. Today, we will discuss eating well on-the-go.

What are some ways to eat healthfully on the go?

Eating healthy when you are busy, traveling, or on the go presents some challenges. But, it is possible to eat healthy on the run. Here are some tips for eating healthy when you eat out.

• Substitute a steamed vegetable for a fried vegetable.
• Split an entrée and order a side salad with a light dressing or vinaigrette.
• Help your kids eat healthy; substitute a light yogurt or fruit for your child’s French fries.
• Order your entrée but take ½ to go.
• Order your entrée grilled, baked, or roasted instead of fried. 
• Pack healthy snacks. Think transportable fruits and vegetables.

I hope this will be helpful to you and encourage healthy snacks throughout the day. I hope you remember to E.A.T healthy year-round. And, I hope you remember to make healthy choices when you are busy and on-the-go.

For even more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.