Tomorrow I embark on a week long holiday to Switzerland. This evening I am preparing a spinach, garlic and ginger stir-fry for dinner in an attempt to clean out the last remaining food items from my fridge (is it only me who becomes uneasy peering into a completely empty fridge..?!). As I stood there chopping, I contemplated the week ahead, in particular the incredible food and wine that would be gracing my lips over the coming seven days. Whilst this thought brought a rather large smile to my face it also made me subconsciously suck in my stomach with the inevitable realisation that my slim physique may not be quite so slim on my return. I am resigned to the fact that I will come back from holiday a few pounds heavier then when I left and I don’t mind this as I know that on returning to the Your Health Hunter way of eating when I am back, I will lose them just as quickly. The trouble is some of us don’t just put on a few pounds when away, we put on stones. One friend (who will remain anonymous!) cried in disbelief down the phone to me when she realised her scales were reading 19 pounds heavier than they were fourteen days previously.
So today, I want to share some simple tips to ensure that your holiday remains a foodie haven without tipping your scales into the danger zone…
1.Don’t be too hard on yourself. This is your hard earned break and if you can’t be a little naughty now, then when can you!
2. Keep your exercise up. If it is a beach holiday go for a brisk walk up and down the beach every day, if it is a city holiday, walk everywhere!
3. Alternate your ‘indulgent days’. Seven days of ice-cream, cheese and artisan breads and pastries will not only harm your waist line but also your energy levels, probably leaving you feeling bloated and sluggish. To avoid this, say to yourself that you will embrace the local delicacies every other day and on the days in-between you can be a bit more modest with your pickings.
4. If you are visiting somewhere renowned for their fruit and vegetables, get yourself to a local market and create a delicious salad or fruit dessert with their offerings. I promise this will be every bit as delicious as munching on the local pastries!
5. Remember that eating 500 calories/day over your requirements will lead to a weight gain of around 1 pound over the week and it is completely plausible to eat 1000 calories/day more than we should when on holiday. Keep this at the back of your mind when ordering!
6.When you are home return to your healthy ways the day after you land. Carrying on the mentality that you are still on ‘holiday eating mode’ is dangerous territory! Remember too that our stomachs will have got used to us eating more so be prepared to feel slightly hungrier when you return to your normal eating patterns!
So, yes go and enjoy the local delicacies of your holiday destination but just don’t lose all common sense! Happy holidays!