Although I don’t get to it as often as I would like, I love to travel. I love to revisit old destinations and see new places. One of my most favorite aspects of travel is trying new foods and restaurants. In fact, one major rule I have when it comes to eating on vacation: I don’t want to eat anywhere that I have access to at home. This rule was tested on a recent trip to SoCal/Disney with my little family. We just landed at LAX and were starving. We had a two hour drive to our cousin’s house and the kids wanted Chipotle. At home, this is one of our favorites. I was tired and hungry. So, we stopped. Yet, right next to Chipotle was a place we had never been - Lyfe Kitchen. I convinced the kids to change their minds and I’m so glad we did.

(Caribbean Cruise - Adults only 1/2015)

I was recently asked on an adults-only vacation with friends, “Do you ever veer away from your nutrition rules while on vacation.” Absolutely. However, my daily food rules (which aren’t that strict anyway) and vacation food rules are similar - If it is fresh, tasty, and makes me feel good I will eat it. If it looks and tastes gross I will not eat it. For example, much of the meat I had on a recent cruise was not good. This lead to my consumption of a dinner roll with butter, a baked potato with butter + sour cream, and broccoli for dinner one night. I wouldn’t say I particularly felt great after that meal, but I also do not like to be hungry.

I saw a quote on Pinterest that said, “I don’t want to look back and think I could have eaten that.” I love this! I love to try both new healthy foods and new treats. I feel like I have come to a place in my adult life where I know what is worth it and what is not. I wouldn’t say that Disneyland has the best food ever. But, they do have some good treats and actually some healthy options.

Healthy Travel Tips:

1. Eat a good, filling breakfast. It should be composed of protein, fat, and carbs. During our family trip to Southern California we ate a couple different things: Our first hotel had a continental breakfast - although I can’t stand carton eggs, I partook. Stay away from pastries and cereals, even the “healthy” ones are loaded with sugar. In our second hotel I picked up Greek yogurt, low sugar granola, and bananas - this was only one morning as our room didn’t have a fridge. Towards the end of the trip we would grab breakfast on our way into the parks. We loved La Brea Bakery Café - you can get a breakfast sandwich (minus the bread): just eggs, cheese, and bacon/turkey sausage. I stayed much more full on these days and was less tempted by treats.

(Hill repeats in Agoura, CA)

2. Exercise. Walking around Disney is an added activity bonus. Pack your workout clothes and get in a 30 minute sweat session. This is something I have always done, thanks to my dad. Some days its hard because you are sharing a hotel room and you don’t want to wake your kids up. But, try for most days. When I travel without my kids, working out is one of my most favorite activities. I can sleep in and go whenever I want. Brecke’s workouts are awesome because you can do most of them without any equipment, absolutely anywhere. If I have time for a run in the daylight I will do that. My in-laws had the most beautiful/hilly neighborhood. It was a great place for hill repeats.

One night I couldn’t sleep. It scares me too much to run in the dark in unfamiliar places. So, I did a parking lot workout. I looked strange.

3. Eat a salad for lunch or dinner. Pick at least one of the two to be super light. Aim to get in as many veggies as you can. I was grateful that LEGOLAND had a salad bar at their market café.

4. If you don’t love it, don’t eat it. It can be hard finding places to eat in a large group. I feel bad sometimes when I have too much of an opinion. So, I think of my mantra: “There is ALWAYS a healthier option available…” Our group wanted to try this award winning burger joint in Oceanside: Ty’s Burger House - I don’t love burgers, so I ordered a salad and It was delicious.

5. Splurge. Who knows when you will be back. Or, maybe someone told you about an amazing treat to try. Do it! I go to Disneyland once every 2 years. Life is about balance and if you follow the top four rules, you’ll be just fine. I always make my family share - unless its something I’ve been saving for. Then, I get it all to myself - sometimes. This way you get to try a little bit of everything without going overboard.

Sometimes I come home from vacation and feel awesome. But, sometimes I come back and I don’t. I know when I indulged a little too much or maybe I didn’t plan enough or have access to the things I would have liked (like at Knotts Berry Farm, barf). This is okay. I just head to the grocery store for my normal, real food items and get right back on track the moment I get home. I get back to sweating hard and treasure the memories I made.

My Top Disney Food Recommendations:

Downtown Disney: La Brea Bakery Café - eggs + cheese + bacon (or, 2/3) + fruit | Uva Bar - fresh and yummy

Disneyland: Bengal Barbeque (Adventureland) | Columbia Harbor House (across from Haunted Mansion) - really good baked potatoes | Market in Adventureland | Pineapple spears (Dole whip counter)

California Adventure: Cocina Cucamonga (Pacific Warf) - fajita salad (ask for no strips/cheese/dressing on the side) - pictured above

For a great list of treats, see the girls at All Time Ever