Heart Healthy Travel Tips

08/15/08 Living Well

Pack Snacks: Eating out can derail your healthy eating habits. Take along some whole grain cereal, nuts, dried fruit, cereal, or granola bars to snack on or substitute for restaurant breakfasts. When eating out look for whole grains at breakfast, salads, soups, or stir-fries for lunch, and reasonably sized servings at dinner.

Pack a Pill Case: Of course you’ll bring your medication, but traveling can disrupt your schedule and make it difficult to remember to take your medication consistently. Use a daily pill case and be sure!

Pack in Chunks: Getting the exercise you need can be difficult on the road, particularly if you are traveling to a business meeting or conference. Two or three “chunks” of exercise (10 to 15 minutes in duration) will go a long way toward keeping your commitment to your health. A quick walk in the morning, even just 10 minutes around the hotel halls, and another at lunch and before bed will keep you on track. Taking a walk outside can clear your head and help digest the information from your meetings. If you are sight-seeing, choose walking tours. Pay attention to the weather, so you don’t get overheated, and drink plenty of water.

Pack an Emergency Card: Make sure you have the information you need in an emergency including your emergency contacts, doctor information, medications, and dosages. Print your information on brightly colored paper and keep it in your wallet. Download a sample card.

Packing a few simple things will make your next trip more heart-healthy.

For more Healthy Lifestyle Tips for Busy People visit Eliz's blog at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com.

Eliz Greene survived a sudden cardiac arrest at age thirty-five while seven-months pregnant with twins. She is a heart health educator, freelance writer, and speaker on a mission to help busy people lead healthier lives.