For most Americans, there is probably not any time of the year that is busier than the holiday season. Getting the house ready for guests, traveling to visit far away family in distant lands, and the never ending trips to stores of all kinds can leave us feeling like underpaid taxi drivers.

Since most of the activities we find ourselves immersed in during the holidays aren't going to change any time soon, it makes eating on the run pretty much unavoidable from time to time during this season. With that in mind, we want to give you a '5 Tips for Eating Healthy on the Run'.

1) Starvation Isn't a Game Plan

It might be a quick and easy remedy for some of the more disciplined dieters, but skipping a meal (or two or even three) can have really bad consequences later.

Some people end up getting so hungry that the eventually find themselves covered with the remains of a Cinnabon after an out-of-body binging experience. For those who don't end up binging, you can still enjoy the sluggish slow-motion effects of a crashed metabolism that has put your body into weight loss hibernation mode.

So just don't do it. Eating regularly prevents binging and keeps your metabolism fueled!

2) You're Not Too Old for a Lunch Box

That's right, next time you're at the mega store, just walk yourself over to the lunch boxes and pick yourself up the latest Hanna Montana or Star Wars Lunch Box. If you're too mature for that, then you could also walk over to the fitness section and find plenty of grown up lunch box options to choose from.

Eating healthy on the run doesn't have to involve searching through hundreds of menu items and restaurant choices in hopes of finding the one restaurant in town that will serve you steamed broccoli without covering it in butter first. YUM! (so not yum)

If you know you'll be gone the next day, then make a little extra for supper the night before, or whip up something quick and healthy that morning before you leave and pack it into your cute new lunch box. Not only will you be healthier, you'll also save some time and $$$ - more presents! You can decide if those of for them... or maybe for yourself.

3) The World's First Fast Food

If you're the kind of person that prefers excuses to reality then you might want to skip this part. Really, you'll never be able to justify that unhealthy trip through Burger Bell because you were in such a hurry again.

Before McD's ever started throwing junk food out of the window at passing cars, God created the ultimate user friendly fast food. They're called fruit. For real, I'm not kidding!

There is never a reason that you can't grab an apple or banana while on the run. Even most gas stations have a basket full of the often ignored 'fast food' sitting beside the frozen burritos and candy bars.

It may not be the meal you would choose if you were preparing supper at home, but it can be the perfect food to keep you on track with your healthy eating plan while you're out and about.

*You could also call this tip the, "Last Resort Healthy Food Option for Those Who Don't Like to Plan Ahead". ...just sayin'.

4) Know Your Dinning Options

For those of you who are willing to do a little bit of planning and research, nearly every city and town has a restaurant that serves food that can be compatible with your particular nutrition or weight loss program.

Most restaurants now also post their nutrition information online too, so it's easy to make your dining choices ahead of time instead of finding yourself stuck at a fast food restaurant'.

Eating out frequently can be a death sentence to a weight loss plan, but if you take the time to find your options before you're in a bind, then it is possible to keep the number on the scale dropping while, even while you're out shopping.

Most people in an average sized community can find 3-5 restaurants that will at least have a couple meal options that work for them. Search them out and commit them to memory. As you're planning your day, make sure to work one of them into your route.

5) Know What To Avoid

We could write an entire post on the topic of knowing what to avoid, but here are a few of the major weight loss gremlins you'll want to steer clear of.

*Food Courts - You already know that the friendly little Asian person is going to be handing out those delicious meat samples that you can't resist, so just stay far away. Plus, the odds are that the food court in the mall doesn't have any healthy options for you.

*Restaurants With Free Starters - This would include Mexican restaurants that bring out buckets full of chips and salsa and your favorite steak place that is more than happy to supply you with basket after basket full of buttery dinner rolls. You might as well hook up an iv drip to a starch dispenser and plug it into your arm.

*Fast Food - With a very limited number of selections - fast food is your enemy. Avoid it like the plague. Actually, avoid it more than that - you probably don't spend much time avoiding the plague.

*Secret Ingredients - Watch out for hidden ingredients that will wreck your diet without you even knowing it. Restaurants often add sugars, oil, and butter to everything.

Those roasted carrots aren't shiny because they're glowing with good health, and that isn't always flavorful meat juices dripping off of your lean steak.

Ask your server if there are added oils, butters, fats, or sugars. If there are, just ask them to not include them in your meal. Most restaurants are happy to meet your request.

You Can Do It!!!

We hope these 5 Tips for Eating Healthy on the Run have encouraged you to keep fighting the good fight of health management even when you're running around at breakneck speed during the holiday season.

What are your strategies for eating healthy on the run - share them with the rest of us!

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* Individual results may vary.