How to eat properly while on vacation?

sarapopefitness
sarapopefitness Posts: 52 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Any tips on eating (at least moderately) well while going on a trip? I'll be going to Vegas for nearly a week, and that place is full of delicious food and drinks. I have been doing really well with eating within my 1200 (base) calorie per day limit, but I am afraid this week will put me back on the wrong path! If anybody has any great tips or tricks, I'd really love to hear them. Thanks :)
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Replies

  • hkmurphy83
    hkmurphy83 Posts: 262 Member
    I'm going to Washington, D.C. at the beginning of June and do not want to miss out on the opportunity to eat well. SO, I'm going to set my calories to maintenance that week. It will up my allotment from 1200. I figure with all the walking around that I'll be doing sightseeing and trying to eat in moderation at that level will keep me from going bat crazy and eating everything in sight. Then when I get back home, I will lower my calories and get back at it!
  • carlytenney
    carlytenney Posts: 31 Member
    Try to keep your portions smaller. For me it is always about the portions. After being on MFP for 7 months I now know what a portion of steak should be.
  • lisahewitt22
    lisahewitt22 Posts: 102
    Workout when you can and try to pick healthy choices but don't deprive yourself of all the good foods that will be around you.
  • Fay132010
    Fay132010 Posts: 24 Member
    if you want to eat something then eat a bit of it, otherwise you'll end up not enjoying yourself.Allow yourself a "treat meal" (most likely dinner) in which you can have a healthy main and have a dessert as a treat. As is mentioned above you might be able to get away with eat a bit more if you are getting more exercise, but it's up to you.
  • jenillawafer
    jenillawafer Posts: 426 Member
    Eat what you want and enjoy yourself. It's all about moderation!
  • Fay132010
    Fay132010 Posts: 24 Member
    what i tend to do is eat less at breakfast and lunch, as i know i'll want to treat myself to a sorbet for dinner. i also find i don't fell as though i'm eatign less, as i'm drinking lots of water as i'm in a hotter country than i'm used to
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I eat the same kinds of food whether I'm at home or on vacation. My diet (noun) heavily revolves around veg and fruit and lean proteins with some whole grains and starches...I can go on vacation and find plenty of those options. Also portion control...if you're dining out just remember the restaurant portions are generally at least two actual servings.

    If you're someone who just sucks on celery sticks all day...has pretty much eliminated all fat (because you think fat is bad) and just generally doesn't eat "real" food as part of your "diet" then you might have a problem on vacation.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Any tips on eating (at least moderately) well while going on a trip? I'll be going to Vegas for nearly a week, and that place is full of delicious food and drinks. I have been doing really well with eating within my 1200 (base) calorie per day limit, but I am afraid this week will put me back on the wrong path! If anybody has any great tips or tricks, I'd really love to hear them. Thanks :)

    It's a vacation so you should eat what you want, 1 week of enjoying food shouldn't set you back unless you go totally bonkers
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
    As Nigella Lawson puts it, 'apply food to face.'
  • jqh23
    jqh23 Posts: 311 Member
    Choose appetizers instead of meals - it will keep the portion small and your bill too. Try to start with a salad. Enjoy one good meal a day, try not to worry TOO much!
  • pestopoli
    pestopoli Posts: 111 Member
    Bump, so I can read this later. Great question!
  • Joreanasaurous
    Joreanasaurous Posts: 1,384 Member
    I am going to be on vacation for the whole month of September. I've come to the conclusion there is no way I'm going to worry about my diet. I'm just going to enjoy my adventure and worry when I get home.
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. I don't have any real advice. My next vacation I plan on just indulging for a few days. A few days won't derail me. You shouldn't let it either.
  • kezza8888
    kezza8888 Posts: 75
    VEGAS BABY!!!

    You cant go wrong at The Wynn buffet! AMAZING SELECTION! Yes - it is hard to avoid all the goodies, BUT they have loads of fresh seafood, sushi, salads, meats, veg!! And the Desserts are ALL mini ones, so you can even have a small sweet treat to finish without feeling too guilty! If there is a queue its still worth the wait!

    I was only in Vegas for 5 nights and we ate at the Wynn 3 times, it was that good at an amazing price!
  • fitacct
    fitacct Posts: 242 Member
    I agree - when on vacation, it's all about portion control. If you deprive yourself, you are just setting yourself up for failure (that's not to say, of course, that every meal should be fried foods and ice-cream sundaes!). Also, try to get some sort of exercise in but make it fun. Walking "the strip" for hours burns up calories, while sitting in one spot playing the slots does not. Some hotels/resorts have exercise rooms and working in at least 20 minutes a few times while on vacation isn't hard to do. Most of all, ENJOY yourself! : )
  • sarapopefitness
    sarapopefitness Posts: 52 Member
    Thanks everyone! All of the words of advice are greatly appreciated! I don't plan on depriving myself, I just don't want it to be an "I'm on vacation, I can eat everything I see" kind of trip :D
  • taytaylynn3
    taytaylynn3 Posts: 601
    Bring your own food. Don't eat out. If you want to get to your goal, just eat right.
  • palmerar
    palmerar Posts: 489 Member
    Calculate what your maintenance level is and try to go somewhere between your deficit and maintenance so that you at least don't gain. Also, make sure you log honestly, if you go over at least be aware of it, that always helps me make better decisions. Do a lot of walking on the strip.
  • Joreanasaurous
    Joreanasaurous Posts: 1,384 Member
    Calculate what your maintenance level is and try to go somewhere between your deficit and maintenance so that you at least don't gain. Also, make sure you log honestly, if you go over at least be aware of it, that always helps me make better decisions. Do a lot of walking on the strip.

    Do people really have time or the desire to log onto myfitnesspal to track their calories while on vacation?

    I know for my vacation at least I'm not even going to have cell or internet coverage and on the rare days I do, logging on here is the last thing I would be worried about.
  • annette_15
    annette_15 Posts: 1,657 Member
    Just eat at maintenance for the time ur there, enjoy ur vacation and get back on track when u get home! Maybe eat very light for breakfast/lunch if u know youll b going out for big dinners etc. I live in vegas part time so you'll most likely b doing a lot of walking anyway, so dont obsess too much :)
  • kcoftx
    kcoftx Posts: 765 Member

    Do people really have time or the desire to log onto myfitnesspal to track their calories while on vacation?

    I know for my vacation at least I'm not even going to have cell or internet coverage and on the rare days I do, logging on here is the last thing I would be worried about.

    I did. I enjoyed it too. But to each their own.

    I reduced the number of meals and staggered the times to compensate. I might eat an early lunch (and call it brunch), for example. If I did eat three meals, I made sure the first two were lighter to compensate for the calories I knew would come later.

    Also keep in mind, unless it is a lay at the beach vacation, which this does not sound like it is, there are tons of opportunities to do a lot of walking. If I went over a bit, I knew I was walking more to compensate and I let it go. But yes, I did set it to maintenance.

    Not every meal has to be a treat meal. So if I am someplace where we are mostly stopping in a hurry, I might not splurge so much there but at another meal where there is just a MUST HAVE item, I will definitely choose that. So choices, even on vacation, can still be made. If we are in a hurry and those kiddos need at least one meal they call call kid treat food (McD's), I might make better choices there knowing that later we are going to a place I LOVE and I will eat what I want there. Does that make sense?

    Also, split your desserts! You don't need one at every meal either, but do enjoy them!

    Last but not least, enjoy your meals but do continue to think portion control. Relax. Make the vacation more about the activities. Make memories. Don't get hung up over a few calories.
  • keithf1138
    keithf1138 Posts: 63
    Enjoy yourself, but make sure to stay active. When my wife and I started our health and wellness kick we also changed our vacations. We still workout every day. Went to Disney and while kids were still sleeping we worked out in the morning before we went to parks. Went to Vancouver couple of summers ago and we did active things all day. We walked, we hiked, we biked. Spring Break this year went to Dominican Republic and we worked out every morning.

    Also never ever take an elevator and if escalator only thing available walk up it.
  • arac62
    arac62 Posts: 65 Member
    I'm going on a trip to England in 2 week, so I've been thinking about this a lot. And I've decided to eat what I want. This is a once in a lifetime trip for me and I really do love food. I will be walking all day most days, so hopefully I won't gain too much back, but if I do gain a pound or 2, I'm ok with that. My focus is going to be not eating unhealthy food just for the hell of it. I am going to only cheat on foods that will actually be worth it.
  • LaurenLouG
    LaurenLouG Posts: 65 Member
    I've just been overseas for a month. I didn't deprive myself of trying the local food, it's about experiencing new things!

    I still kept up my exercise where possible and I was smart about portion control, you don't have to finish every meal, there were times when I ordered healthy meals but there were also times when I had a few bites of a cupcake. I didn't gain weight.

    Have fun and just enjoy yourself! It's a vacation and life is too short.
  • AngelsFan91106
    AngelsFan91106 Posts: 111 Member
    I like to fill myself up, say 85% with veggies/fruit and lean proteins. Then I "eat whatever I want," but by then, I only want a couple of bites of treats. But I always have treats. Depriving yourself only ruins your goals in the long run. And do lots of sightseeing and walk a bunch. Have fun!
  • sarapopefitness
    sarapopefitness Posts: 52 Member
    I can't bring my own food as we are flying there. But I do plan on buying some snacks from the store so we can have little healthier things to nosh on.
  • sarapopefitness
    sarapopefitness Posts: 52 Member
    Bring your own food. Don't eat out. If you want to get to your goal, just eat right.

    I can't bring my own food as we are flying there. But I do plan on buying some snacks from the store so we can have little healthier things to nosh on.
  • keithf1138
    keithf1138 Posts: 63
    To add we are heading to Europe for 3 weeks in June. 1st trip and well we are going to eat what we want, but expect to be walking and a couple of bike trips all over the place. If we come home a few pounds heavier then so be it. We know how to lose the weight. We will just hop right back on the normal day to day bike when we are back.
  • cruzcrzyMarie
    cruzcrzyMarie Posts: 251 Member
    My dh retired six months ago and we've done quit a bit of traveling since then, including Las Vegas. Keep desserts to a minimum and consider traveling with a scale, weighing daily. We ordered a nice travel one off of Amazon.


    Marie
  • sarapopefitness
    sarapopefitness Posts: 52 Member

    Do people really have time or the desire to log onto myfitnesspal to track their calories while on vacation?

    I know for my vacation at least I'm not even going to have cell or internet coverage and on the rare days I do, logging on here is the last thing I would be worried about.

    I did. I enjoyed it too. But to each their own.

    I reduced the number of meals and staggered the times to compensate. I might eat an early lunch (and call it brunch), for example. If I did eat three meals, I made sure the first two were lighter to compensate for the calories I knew would come later.

    Also keep in mind, unless it is a lay at the beach vacation, which this does not sound like it is, there are tons of opportunities to do a lot of walking. If I went over a bit, I knew I was walking more to compensate and I let it go. But yes, I did set it to maintenance.

    Not every meal has to be a treat meal. So if I am someplace where we are mostly stopping in a hurry, I might not splurge so much there but at another meal where there is just a MUST HAVE item, I will definitely choose that. So choices, even on vacation, can still be made. If we are in a hurry and those kiddos need at least one meal they call call kid treat food (McD's), I might make better choices there knowing that later we are going to a place I LOVE and I will eat what I want there. Does that make sense?

    Also, split your desserts! You don't need one at every meal either, but do enjoy them!

    Last but not least, enjoy your meals but do continue to think portion control. Relax. Make the vacation more about the activities. Make memories. Don't get hung up over a few calories.

    I would like to log my food (and I would have time since it's not going to be an activity-heavy kind of trip), but I don't think I'll be able to as I won't have internet on my phone. Great advice though, this really helps. I know I won't fuss too much over the calories as I'm not an obsessive type, I just don't want to get carried away with treats! Having desserts every so often sounds like a good idea. I'll forget calories, and focus more on the portions and what KIND of food it is. Thanks :)

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