YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health SPRING 2019 | Page 18

NICKIE HURSTHOUSE, APD
Nickie is a registered dietitian, born in New Zealand and currently
living and working in London, UK. Wherever Nickie’s travels take her it
is always about the food, the culture and the people. Good nutrition,
simple yet delicious meals and cooking with friends and family are
what Nickie believes integral to leading a healthy life.
EATING WELL
ON HOLIDAY
A dietitian’s top tips for feeling your best and keeping well on holidays.
olidays are a time for relaxation, exploring,
no routine and indulgence. It’s a shakeup to
routine, and we return relaxed and refreshed.
But how often have you come back from your time
away pledging to kickstart a healthier routine? Instead,
look to maintain some of your everyday healthy habits
whilst you are away on holiday.
H
Start the day right:  Breakfast could fall at 7am or
midday, but you’re on holiday so it doesn’t really
matter. Or does it? Your breakfast sets the tone for the
rest of the day. Kickstart the day with a high-fibre meal
like whole grain toast, oats or muesli, include a portion
of fruit, and keep yourself hydrated with plenty of
water. 
Explore the local markets:  Every country has so
much to offer when it comes to celebrating their food
culture. The diversity we see around the world when
looking through local markets is mindblowing. Spend
some time looking for fresh produce like local fruits
or nuts to keep on hand as healthy snacks whilst you
are out exploring.
Keep an eye on portion sizes:  Routine can
creep away from us - one of the perks of a
relaxing holiday; but it can also be one of the
downsides when it comes to food. Meals can fall
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YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE SPRING 2019
at different times, breakfast can merge into lunch
and lunch into cocktails, and cocktails into
dinner. When this happens we can start to lose
the cues of when we are hungry and when we are
full. Looking at how much we are eating
throughout the day can also be difficult.
Moderating portion sizes takes just a little effort
each time you dine out. Look to split your plate to
have half of it vegetables and salad, just as you
would aim for at home. Avoid that extra side of
chips and ask for the bread bowl to be put to the
side after your meal arrives. 
Find accommodation that has some form of
kitchen: Having access to a fridge, a stovetop or
even just a kettle, opens up a plethora of
opportunities to eat well – while also helping out the
budget. Picking up some local ingredients at the
market or supermarket and putting them together
for a simple meal at home can be a nice change
from eating out every meal.
All things in moderation: Unless you are travelling
long term, your holiday is going to be a short,
temporary, break from your normal life. Despite the
lack of routine and other aspects that can lead you
off track, it’s important to remember that staying
healthy can be as simple as keeping food and