How to eat healthy while traveling.

People will often say how they can't eat healthy while they're traveling. This comes from people who only travel occasionally, for pleasure, as well as those who make a living on the road. Just like at home, planning is the key to eating healthy on the road. Thinking about what and when you are going to eat beforehand makes all the difference.

You can eat well and eat healthy with a bit of planning.

Breakfast

Focus on breakfast because it offers you a chance to make sure that you are getting fueled at the outset of the day. If your flight or travel is early have breakfast before you leave home or at the hotel. If you are in a hurry make something to go and take it on the plane with you. By making sure to eat a good breakfast, it's less likely that you'll become hungry later in the day and end up eating whatever comes your way.

While this is a guideline that's not much different than when you're at home, it's especially important when traveling.

Lunch

Lunches can be a challenge because many of us will just jump into a fast food joint and eat what's quick. Eating breakfast helps avoid this, but with advance thought you can be prepared for something healthier. Subway can be a good choice. Have a cheese sandwich with lots of veggies. They are one restaurant that does have the amount of fat and calories in their sandwiches listed in the restaurant. Choose their whole wheat bread for your sandwich.

Salads are a great choice. If you are at the salad bar, add some beans to your salad -- red beans, garbanzos, soy beans -- if they are available.  Use the olive oil and vinegar as your dressing.

Dinner

Dinner can be much easier than other meals. Many people feel intimidated by cooking fish and having seafood when you are eating out is a great choice.  For chain restaurants choose the simplest dish.

Snacks

It is a good idea to travel with snacks. These might include fruit, nuts, granola bars, dried fruit and nut trail mix and bottles of water. When the snack on the plane is offered you will always have something better for me (that also tastes a lot better).

The simple key is planning. Eat breakfast, plan for lunch, use the Dining Out guide for dinner and be prepared with healthy snacks. Think about where you are going and what you are going to eat ahead of time. You can eat great food and eat healthy on the road.