Travel Lean-Your Guide To Healthy Foods On An Airplane/Cruise/Road Trip

We all at some point of time are travelling and taking those long flights and hopping across the continent.The most general Phrase i hear people say when they travel extensively is that we donot have the time to workout or we do not eat home food or healthy food to stay fit.While i term this as just a bunch of excuses, Without access to your local supermarket on your next trip you may find yourself subsisting on fattening restaurant meals and abandoning your usual exercise routine to sit for long hours on planes or buses. Vegetarian, organic, low carb, low cal, low fat -- no matter which diet you're on, there's a good chance that it went down the tubes on your last vacation.

But believe it or not, it is possible to eat well on a cross-country road trip,cruise or flight  to stay active without access to a gym and even to go on a cruise without gaining 5 or 10 pounds. You can eat healthy and stay active no matter what kind of trip you're taking.

On the Plane

Just because you're stuck on a plane doesn't mean you're stuck eating the congealed meat and starchy sides the airlines call food. (That's if your airline serves meals at all.)

Your first line of defense against unhealthy airline menus is to bring what food you can from home.Airport prohibit passengers from taking liquids and gels in excess of 3.4 ounces through airport security checkpoints, but solid snacks like bananas, apples, trail mix, nuts, carrots, celery sticks and energy bars should pass muster. Pack a few of these in your carry-on and skip the airline's salty snacks.

Once you've passed through security, anything you buy at the airport may be brought onto your flight, so this is your chance to stock up on bottled water and buy a salad or sandwich to eat on the plane. Many airports have begun adding more healthy dining options to their standard array of fast food; look for dishes with lots of vegetables and fiber, and skip the fried stuff.

In flight, avoid alcohol and soft drinks -- both can dehydrate you. Water is always your best bet for staying hydrated and sticking to your diet.

At Sea

Cruise ships have a well-deserved reputation as bastions of gluttony, with food, food and more food available literally 24 hours a day on many ships. Luckily, amid all the pizza, creamy pastas and self-serve ice cream, most cruise lines also offer lighter and healthier options with reduced fat, sodium and/or carbs. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Holland America and many other lines have eliminated trans fats completely from their dining rooms, and on most ships you'll find vegetarian and other healthier options clearly marked on the menus.

Along with overeating, cruisers have also traditionally faced the temptation to laze around by the pool instead of staying active -- but on today's ships, there's no reason not to exercise if you have the motivation. Nearly all modern vessels have a gym and jogging track at the bare minimum, and most also offer a number of fitness classes (yoga, aerobics, etc.) that passengers can take thoughout their cruise.

Newer ships, particularly those in the Royal Caribbean fleet, have everything from ice skating rinks and rock-climbing walls to bowling alleys and boxing rings. But here's perhaps the simplest way to get in a little extra exercise: don't take the elevator. Most modern-day mega-ships have so many decks that jogging up or down the stairs every time you need to get somewhere will easily help you burn a few extra calories.

On the Road

Long hours of sitting in the car and eating fast food at every rest stop can derail a diet faster than you can say "road trip." How can you break the cycle? First, take McDonald's off the menu. Before you set forth on your journey, fill a cooler with healthy snacks like fruit, raw veggies and sandwiches from home, and then restock your stash along the way with offerings from local grocery stores. Don't forget the bottled water! (Save money and the environment by purchasing gallon jugs of water to use to refill your bottles.)