Today’s guest post is written by celebrity personal trainer and healthy living expert Keri Lynn Ford

Summer days are here—and with them, vacations, travel and a more lax schedule. Most people assume that traveling or vacation time necessarily means a break from a healthy lifestyle, but wouldn’t it be nice to return home not weighing five more pounds than when you left? Staying fit and healthy on the go is not as hard as you might think, and I have put together some great tips and products that can help with staying on track.

Summer days are here—and with them, vacations, travel and a more lax schedule. Most people assume that traveling or vacation time necessarily means a break from a healthy lifestyle, but wouldn’t it be nice to return home not weighing five more pounds than when you left? Staying fit and healthy on the go is not as hard as you might think, and I have put together some great tips and products that can help with staying on track:

For eating well on the go:

1.     Bring a cooler—yes, even if you are traveling on an airplane! I recommend a soft-shell cooler for under the seat!

2.     Use the hotel fridge. Many hotels have refrigerators in the rooms, but it is never guaranteed and it may depend on the size of the hotel room you have booked. Always call ahead to request or confirm a refrigerator and a microwave in the hotel room, even if it is listed on the website. Some hotels charge extra for these items, but if it means eating less food out and having healthier options; the additional cost is worth it.

3.     Pack lots of snacks. Some great, nutritious choices include:

•     Freeze dried fruit, like Funky Monkey Snacks. Funky Monkey comes in individual snack packs with fruit combinations, like Bananamon and MangOJ that are fun, natural and crunchy.

•     Individual packets of nut butter to put on pre-cut veggies, sliced fruit or whole wheat bread. Sliced apple, celery stalks or brown rice cakes with almond butter are my favorite snacks and they keep your children full longer because of the added fat.

•      Homemade trail mix made with an assortment of raw unsalted nuts, dried fruit. This is less expensive than the store-bought kind found at the airport, and you can ensure it isn’t packed with added sugar. Plus, you can add your trail mix as a fun topping to some plain oatmeal packets.

To keep fit away from your home routines:

1.     Try to book a hotel that provides a fitness facility. Call ahead to find out what equipment is available to make planning your workouts easier.

2.     In the absence of a gym, get creative: Are there stairs at your hotel? Does the hotel have an indoor or outdoor pool? Is there an outdoor running path, sidewalk or open area that you can safely use?

3.     Pack a few items that are light and versatile like a jump rope, resistance bands or inflatable water weights. Water weight dumbbells (and/or ankle and wrist weights) are empty prior to travel, and then inflated by filling with water to create weight. These can be used for a variety of circuit-based workouts, similar to a pair of dumbbells.

4.     Find events going on in the area you will be visiting – races, walks or festivals (which always require a lot of walking!). Recently, I held a “virtual” 5K. You can read about the recap and great response here. These types of events can be done from wherever you are, with added motivation of dozens of others running at the same time, worldwide.

With all of the above in mind, if you are traveling for vacation, part of the fun is eating foods of that specific area, and allowing yourself to indulge in planned treats. Give yourself permission to splurge, enjoy every bite and then get right back on track the very next meal. Let go of the guilt. Breaking the diet-and-deprivation mentality is about achieving balance through moderation and by realizing that this is a lifestyle choice.

Keri Lynn Ford is an ACE Certified Trainer, Maddog Certified Spin Instructor, Certified Lifestyle and Weight Management Coach and the Creator of IgniteGirls Fitness, an online training and nutrition program. Keri is a former University of Delaware college cheerleader and has previously trained celebrities such as Alison Sweeney from The Biggest Loser, Jamie Kennedy and Jennifer Love Hewitt. She has also graced the cover of FitnessX Magazine, and the pages of Physique and Fit & Firm. To read more about Keri, visit kerilynnford.com