How to Eat Healthy (and Cheaply!) While Traveling

Once you’ve dedicated an entire paycheck to a long-awaited vacation, the last thing you want to worry about is dipping into the next paycheck just to feed yourself while on the road. While traveling offers a great excuse to treat yourself to a few restaurant-quality meals you wouldn’t normally experience, the costs can add up quickly and leave you regretting frequent splurges. Rather than relying on the cheaper (and often less-healthy) fast food meal options, here are a few ways to keep costs down while still eating healthy.

Book accommodations with free breakfast. By paying a bit more for a hotel that offers a free daily breakfast, you make it easier and more convenient to fuel yourself at the beginning of each day, and you also have the opportunity to grab a few extra pieces of fruit or assemble a sandwich for lunch or an afternoon snack.

Visit local markets. Any town’s local market will typically sell fruits, vegetables and other goods picked or prepared within the past day or two. Grab a baguette, some fresh cheese and a bunch of grapes before heading to the park for a healthy al-fresco picnic.

Opt for restaurant lunches. If you do decide to treat yourself to restaurant meals, go at lunchtime instead of dinner. Most spots will have fixed-price menus that will include a starter, a main dish and either coffee or dessert. Making lunch your largest meal will help keep costs down and won’t leave you as hungry for a big, pricey dinner.