If you’re planning a late summer vacation or a trip to the beach, you are inevitably going to be tempted by countless fast-food stops along the way, either at airports or resorts on the road.

It’s an easy, quick, cheap way to stave off hunger, and it tastes good, too. The only problem is that junk food is not good for you, or your swimsuit figure, said Ryan Andrews, a licensed dietitian and exercise physiologist at the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center.

Andrews offers the following tips on preventing “vacationer waist”:

»Keep a variety of prepared vegetables on hand — such as red or green pepper strips, celery sticks and baby carrots — as quick snacks to tide you over from meal to meal.
»Raw nuts, like almonds or walnuts, and nutrition bars, ones you make at home or buy in the store, can be healthy choices, as well.

aparchman@baltimoreexaminer.com