7 tips to stay on track during the summer holidays

The holidays are here and with them come more opportunity to be out and about. There is no need for you to derail from your healthy lifestyle during this summer season. My favourite cliche is, 'failing to prepare is preparing to fail'.

1. Prepare ahead of time. If you are heading out on your day trip, pack your own goodie bag. Pack up your water and healthy snacks to keep you going. If you are planning a picnic, even better, because you are in total control of what you'll be eating and it will save you money too!

2. If you are having a hotel break away, lucky you! Google where you will be staying, have a look at the menu and figure out which meals will fit in nicely with your eating plan. Also, google nearby restaurants and know which ones to avoid, like the local chip shop, and which ones will cater for your needs. These days a lot of people are health conscious and restaurants are catering for those needs.

3. If you are self-catering for most of your meals, it will be a lot easier to stay on track. You can continue to eat as you would at home as you are in control of the food you buy and what you cook. By being conscious most of the time you will enjoy your few meals out all the more.

4. Making smart swaps while you are on your day out or holiday away can significantly reduce unnecessary calorie intake. Choose things that are grilled rather than sauteed. Grilled or baked dishes are much kinder than fried foods. Ask for dressings on the side so you can control how much you wish to consume. If you are visiting family or friends who like to cook up a storm and you would rather not upset them by turning your nose up at their efforts of slaving over a hot stove, keep moderation in mind. Don't overload your plate. Portion control is key and enjoy your meal.

5. It is the summer season, and you might be lucky enough to have the odd lie in of a morning but try not to skip meals. During busy days out, you can lose track of time and miss a meal. Keep some healthy snacks at hand and try to eat every 3-4 hours to avoid binge eating or over eating at the next meal.

6. Stay hydrated. Travelling, getting caught in the sun and participating in physical activities during your day out can lead to dehydration. Avoid this by making sure you have a water bottle to hand and continuously sip on it throughout the day. Dehydration can mask itself as hunger so avoid overeating by keeping up with your fluid intake.

7. Lastly but not least, make an effort to keep physical activity as part of your routine during the summer season. There are plenty of workouts you can do from home, from a hotel room or simply choose days out that include some level of physical activity. Long walks, hikes, swimming and bike rides to name just a few things you can do with friends and family. It will also help offset any extra calories you may consume during the summer holidays.

Let me know how you have managed to stay on track during the summer holidays and share your tips with me. I'm always excited to hear how other people are managing to stay on track during notoriously tempting times!