Tips for Making Healthy Choices While Traveling

In my job I travel a lot. But I don’t let all the travel keep me from making healthy choices.

When it comes to eating, there are many restaurants out there that advertise their healthy menu, and those are the ones you should attempt to frequent whenever possible, while traveling. However, if you are a business traveler and your customers or co-workers prefer the typical steakhouse or you are in airports most of the time, it’s important that you get comfortable with ordering things “special.”

The good news is, most restaurants will accommodate your requests, and you can do it quietly with the waiter, or before your meal, so you aren’t looking like Sally from “When Harry Met Sally” all the time. Even steakhouses that drench everything in butter and salt will have fish and vegetarian options and are willing to cook the dish plain for you. All you have to do is politely ask and even make a joke out of it “I am about to destroy the chef’s master recipe by asking you to make it as boring as possible.”

Sometimes you have to “over correct” and ask for “zero butter, zero salt, no sauce, no oil,” then ask for the salt and oil on the side so you are able to season it yourself. Once you are accustomed to tasting food without butter, sauces or salt, it becomes like second nature to ask for things plain or “on the side.”

A prime example of “on the side” is salad dressing. You might think you’re making a healthy choice in ordering a salad, but salad dressings can ruin a perfectly healthy salad. It is best to order the dressing with the least amount of cream or sugar (Vinaigrette typically is low sugar, but make sure you ask.).