As a travel nurse, it can certainly be tough to stick to a healthy, nutritious routine when you are away from home. There is the temptation to try a new restaurant or dish with friends, or grab food on the go as you travel to and from a job, both of which can lead you to make poor dietary decisions.
Here are three tips for keeping your diet on track while on the go:
1. Make a plan. Whether you are working to lose weight or maintain the weight you are at now, making a plan and sticking to it will help you achieve your goal. Many successful weight-loss programs challenge participants to create life-long habit changes so that people will learn how to consistently make good dietary choices. You can create a plan for yourself that has been tailored to fit both your lifestyle and nutritional needs. For example, if you are diabetic, your diet could be much different than others.
2. Create ready-to-go, portioned snacks. It's hard to stick to your diet when you are trying to get your responsibilities done. However, the difficulty intensifies when you are traveling and don't have access to much besides fast food chains and convenience stores. After grocery shopping, before you put away the goods, start to create portioned-out snacks to store for the future. This strategy will allow you to grab a snack on your way out of the house that has already been counted for. For some foods, consider writing the number of calories in the snack on the outside of the package so you know exactly what you are eating.
3. Eat off the appetizer menu. Part of the joy and exploration of a city is trying the local fare. This is an important part of experiencing the local culture of an area, but it doesn't mean you have to blow your new healthy habits when facing a restaurant menu. Many establishments are beginning to post the nutritional values of meals, but if you're in a restaurant that does not, consider ordering an appetizer. Non-fried appetizers are often served in smaller portions than entrees, and if it is combined with a salad, you can stay on track with your diet and still enjoy eating out with friends.