What works in travel?

I know gas prices are high but travel is still enjoyable. In my opinion, traveling doesn’t have to be an excuse to overeat. This is my attempt to prepare for one of my fun trips this summer.

What works in travel?

It’s good to know the reason why we’re going. We are going to see a new place, celebrate and enjoy old friends and connect as a family. Oh, we’re going to have some mad fun and we’re going to get fabulous photos.

Tourism (in my book) requires walking. I count any type of walking as an exercise. If the pedometer can do it, so can I. I will get some walking during my trip. In case I don’t, I can always find a fabulous park where I can walk for at least 30 minutes. I’ve always been a firm believer that seeing a city by food allows you to see details better than when someone is driving a car.

I have no idea what we are going to eat. When we travel on our own, I plan on going to a grocery store and filling up on fruits and sandwich stuff so we can eat that for breakfast and dinner. We’ll probably eat out for lunch and of course, we will go to a fabulous café. Actually, I’m interested in going where the locals go. Everything done for tourists is ridiculously expensive – trust me, I lived in Rio for 18 years. Oh, we’re gonna have wedding food. Wedding food is different in different countries but I know there will be cake. I’m looking forward to the experience. I’m all for trying new foreign foods.

Unless I’m going to the Taste of Chicago, my trips are not food focused, they are tourism focused. Even when we travel to be with family on Thanksgiving the events are family focused, not food focused. I need to change my focus even when I travel. Amazing.

Here are some helpful tips: I found

What's a vacationer to do?

Pack Snacks. According to Andrus, most vacationers start losing perspective on their diets the minute they get to the airport. "Since there isn't always healthy food at airports or on planes, people start eating junk food and don't stop until their trip is over," she says. Andrus suggests starting off on the right foot by carrying a stash of energy bars and raw nuts to beat hunger pangs. These also make for a quick breakfast or nutritious snack on your getaway. For energy bars, choose an all-natural brand that isn't loaded with sugar and has a combination of fiber and protein. Gnu, Kashi, Balance Bars and Zone Bars are all good choices.

Keep Moving. Lang suggests planning your trip around activity. "You don't have to hit the gym to move," she says. 'Biking and walking are terrific ways to see cities and burn calories without you even thinking about it." That explains the popularity of Butterfield & Robinson and Country Walkers, two travel-planning companies that can organize walking or biking vacations anywhere in the world. If you don't want something that ambitious on your trip, check out half-day or full-day walking or biking tours in your destination. In Savannah, for example, A Walk Through Savannah has nearly a dozen walks including one that hits the Civil War sights. Check with the local tourism office in the city you're visiting to find similar companies.

Splurge Wisely. A trip to Italy wouldn't be complete without savoring hearty pasta dishes and creamy gelato, and France wouldn't be half the fun without the croissants and decadent cheeses. The trick is knowing how to limit your intake. Instead of eating everything in sight all day long, just pick one indulgence per day and enjoy it guilt-free. "If you plan for one splurge a day, you're also more likely to choose wisely and think about the foods you really want rather than just stuffing yourself with anything in sight," she says.

Work Out Hard Before You Leave. If you're going on a beach vacation where walking to the beach is likely to be the biggest physical activity, Lang says it's a good idea to boost your workouts and drop a few pounds before you leave. That way, if you gain while gone, you won't notice. If you usually run three miles three days a week, for example, add two extra days of running, or go for five miles on each run instead of three. Or supplement your cardio workouts with strength training. "The extra working out will rev up your metabolism, and your body will need a rest from the increased intensity," Lang says.

Commit to a 10-minute Workout. Lang says that if you take a few minutes in your hotel room first thing in the morning, you can do a quick and effective workout that will keep your metabolism going and help you have a healthier trip from a mental point of view. Create your own 10-minute program with a combination of lunges, squats, jump lunges and jump rope. To learn more about on-the-road workouts, check out the effective vacation workouts on travel guru Peter Greenberg's Web site.