4 Affordable Healthy Eating Vacation Spots

A common issue for travelers returning from holidays is the unwanted weight gain that can occur after just a short stint away. Days spent lounging by the pool, dining out frequently, indulging in treats, and enjoying a few calorie-laden cocktails in the evenings can lead to a surprising number of extra pounds.

Maintaining a nutritious diet while on vacation can be tough, given the desire to relax and indulge, as well as the convenience of high-calorie restaurant options. Additionally, there is often a misconception that healthy eating while traveling is costly.

Why not simplify your eating habits by choosing destinations where healthy food is accessible and budget-friendly? The following locations offer a variety of nourishing cuisines, allowing you to enjoy meals out without any guilt. (See also: Eat These 6 Foods to Stay Healthy While Traveling)

Thailand

Thai cuisine is known for its vibrant flavors, combining aromatic herbs, fiery chili peppers, and a balance of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy elements. Most traditional dishes utilize fresh ingredients and are prepared simply, yet the abundance of vegetables makes them nutritious.

Key ingredients include leafy greens, eggplants, green beans, rice, and proteins such as fish, chicken, and pork. Dishes like Pad Thai are common but can be oily; however, stir-frying generally retains more nutrients compared to deep frying.

Thailand is also an economical vacation spot, with the low cost of food being a significant factor. Street food is a fantastic option for budget travelers, with meals starting at around a dollar. Even mid-range restaurants are affordable, with meals averaging between $5 and $10, including a drink. (See also: How to Eat Street Food Safely While Traveling)

Recommended Foods

Opt for dishes like Tom Yum or broth-based noodle soups that are light, fragrant, and vegetable-rich. Grilled meats and fish served with rice and a side salad are plentiful, along with fresh exotic fruits such as jackfruit, durian, mango, and pineapple, which make for excellent snacks.

Foods to Avoid

Curry dishes that utilize coconut milk, like massaman and various Thai green, red, or yellow varieties, can be high in calories. Many Thai desserts are loaded with sugar or sweetened condensed milk, such as sticky rice with mango, banana pancakes, or Thai crepes.

Mexico

There’s a common misconception that Mexican food is merely greasy, cheesy, and unhealthy. However, the truth is that Mexican cuisine encompasses vastly different styles—modern American-influenced dishes filled with fat, and traditional, colorful fare rich in fresh ingredients.

A traditional Mexican diet is based on staples like beans, nopales (cactus), corn, rice, chiles, and the ever-popular avocado. Authentic tacos are typically made from whole grain corn rather than refined flour, often filled with modest portions of meat or vegetables and garnished with salsa and guacamole, not heavy cheese.

Street food is readily available and budget-friendly, with meals rarely costing more than a few dollars. Even reputable restaurants charge just above $10 for a meal and drink. (See also: 7 Countries Where You Can Travel on $30 a Day or Less)

Recommended Foods

Pozole, a hominy-based stew or soup with pork or chicken, comes with fresh toppings like radishes and lime. Variations on tacos, such as quesadillas and gorditas, can be filled with vegetables or seafood—just avoid the fried versions. Snacks like boiled or grilled corn and freshly cut fruit are also widely available.

Foods to Avoid

Flautas, tacos that are rolled and deep-fried, are tasty but high in fat. Many snacks like potato chips, plantains, and churros are also deep-fried and less healthy choices.

Vietnam

In recent years, Vietnamese cuisine has gained international acclaim for its delicious flavors and healthy cooking methods. Steaming and boiling are favored over frying in many dishes, with broths being a staple, exemplified by the popular noodle soup, pho.

The cuisine reflects influences from both Thailand and China, featuring fresh vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, and bamboo shoots, combined with aromatic herbs and spices like Thai basil, mint, and cilantro.

Most meals at street vendors or local eateries cost just a couple of dollars, while dining at more upscale establishments still only averages $6 to $7 per dish.

Recommended Foods

Dishes such as pho or any nutrient-rich noodle broth are low in fat and high in flavor. Fresh spring rolls, filled with greens and raw vegetables, are a healthier alternative to fried variants. Bánh cuốn, steamed rolls of pork and vegetables wrapped in rice, are tasty and low-calorie.

Foods to Avoid

Bánh mì, a sandwich made with baguette, is carb-heavy and best limited. Bún chả, a dish of grilled pork and fatty broth, can be high in fat and should be approached with caution.

Indonesia

Indonesian cuisine is rich in proteins, veggies, and superfoods, featuring staple dishes that often include chicken and rice alongside various regional soups and salads.

Areas like Canggu and Ubud in Bali are particularly noteworthy for healthy dining options, with numerous health-conscious eateries serving everything from poke bowls to quinoa salads, often with meals costing under $6.

Recommended Foods

Look for Indonesian soups, chicken satays, and chicken and rice expressions. Health food cafes can be found nearly everywhere, offering a delightful array of nutritious international dishes.