Yes - you can be both happy and healthy while RVing! In fact, they go together. You’ll be happier if you're healthy, right? And when you’re happy, you’ll be in a better state to not eat junk food.
Here are a few tips on how to practice self-care while RVing.
Tip #1: Eat Healthy on Vacation with Healthy RV Meals
Have you ever heard something along the lines of 80% of your health coming from your diet? While people argue various percentages, one thing is clear: your diet is the biggest factor in staying healthy.
That’s why the best thing you can do to stay healthy while traveling is to plan healthy RV meals. There’s a reason why professional athletes and bodybuilders plan their meals a week at a time. By planning ahead - and ideally even preparing the meals - you’ll be less likely to eat junk food later.
For example, let’s pretend you have two RVing friends that meet up at the site.
Pam is a planner so she brought a bunch of healthy foods with her. She has things like salads, pre-cut vegetables and fruits, and some grilled chicken. Jill is the opposite. She likes to “live in the moment”, so she didn’t really do any planning. She knows there are plenty of places to go grab a quick bite to eat - like the McDonalds next to the campsite and a Taco Bell down the road.
Who do you think is going to eat better during the trip? It’s a no-brainer. Pam will eat the healthy foods she’d prepared. Jill will chow down on some junk food. Sure, it will make her feel good temporarily. But it won’t exactly give her the energy or nutrition she needs! If you need to make a quick meal, here are a few dinner ideas to consider that don’t require a specific cooking appliance like a pressure cooker.
Tip #2: Stay Healthy While Traveling - Get Your Steps In
This probably isn’t a problem for most RVers. You took the RV out to have an adventure, right?
- Maybe you’re in the mountains and are going to hike some epic trails
- It could be you’re close to a new city or town that you’re going to explore
- Perhaps you’re at the beach, where you’ll enjoy your favorite pastime of walking up and down the beach looking for seashells or just people watching
These types of things are great because they’re both enjoyable and good exercise. Did you know the CDC even has a page that speaks to the health benefits of exercise? Just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you get a pass! It’s still important.
If you aren’t planning on doing something like this - maybe you should! No, simply walking doesn’t help your muscle grow like weight lifting might. But it’s still a great way to burn calories and help your body’s body chemistry.
The secret to exercise is doing something that you enjoy. If you don’t want to walk or hike, what would you like to do? Go for a long swim? Rollerblade in the nearby park? Ride your bike? If it gets your blood pumping, it’s a good choice!
Tip #3: Stay Healthy on Vacation by Sleeping Enough
Last but not least, let’s talk about sleep. For some people, being in an RV is actually a time where they get more sleep than at home! They turn off the lights early and fall asleep much earlier than back home because they don’t have bright lights keeping them up.
If you’re with a bunch of friends or staying up late with something like a tablet, this may not be you. You might like staying up late while you’re out in your RV. If this is your tendency - we recommend you consider changing it up.
Lack of sleep is not cool. Don’t let that middle school stigma of it being “cool” to stay up late and not get enough sleep still affect how you live your life! Get to sleep early, rest well, and enjoy the next day. You don’t want to borrow happiness from tomorrow by staying up late today!
Self-Care on The Road is Important
The key to self-care on the road is the same as when you’re at home. Eat healthy, exercise, and ensure you get your sleep. It will make your whole trip more enjoyable and you won’t regret it when you get back home!
