Healthy Living is not Always Easy

I follow a lot of food and nutrition blogs. I enjoy reading about what’s going on in the industry, other nutritionist’s strategies, food trends, and recipe ideas. That being said, I find that some nutritionists give the impression that they’re super human, and never experience temptation or have a craving for a juicy burger. Maybe they do, but they just don’t talk about it. I don’t want to be one of those nutritionists.

I’ll be honest with you; the next couple weeks are going to be a challenge for me. We are leaving Buenos Aires on Wednesday morning, and flying to Mendoza, Argentina. Mendoza is wine country; where all your favorite Argentinean wines are made. We have a wine tour booked on Friday, and I’m really looking forward it to! That being said, we will be staying in a hotel, which means we don’t have a kitchen and will be eating most of our meals out.

I know what you’re thinking – that’s going to be challenging? Frankly, yes. It’s difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle when this is the situation. Buffet breakfasts and eating out every meal presents temptations (ex. croissants, bread baskets, appetizers, cheap & delicious wine).

(The picture above is an example of what I’m dealing with – John’s breakfast Saturday morning: dulce de leche donuts. I opted out because we just came back from a run, and I had my fair share of dulce de leche in Uruguay, but that didn’t make it any easier)

So how do I balance enjoying my current, once-in-a-lifetime situation, and living a healthy lifestyle?

A big part of it has to do with planning ahead. For example, I know that on Friday we’ll be sampling a lot of wine, and enjoying a gourmet lunch. Knowing this, I’ll make sure to choose a lighter option (salad with protein, or fish with vegetables), and say no to the vino on Thursday night. And, plan to hit the hotel gym Friday morning before the tour.

On Saturday, we fly to Santiago, Chile where we will have a kitchen, and access to a gym again. This makes it easier to stay healthy, but again, I’ll be in a new city with lots of restaurants & yummy food to try. Knowing this, we decided to book a couple bike tours. We did this in Barcelona last summer, and it’s a great way to see a city, and do something active at the same time.

When it comes down to it, living a healthy lifestyle requires some planning, saying no sometimes, and learning to make healthy choices. It can be hard, but it feels good, and pays off in the long run: you have more energy, feel better, look better & maintain your weight.

When you find yourself in tempting situations, don’t forget what you know about healthy living: when you’re out for dinner – say no to the bread & appies, creamy pasta dishes & the side of fries. Remember that restaurant portions are usually way bigger than you make at home, so take half to go for lunch the next day. Say no to dessert, order 1 glass of wine each vs. a bottle to split, and stay active during the day! And finally – it’s ok to admit that it’s hard to live healthy sometimes (other nutritionists: I’m talking to you too)!