Seeking healthy menu and restruant ideas for Vegas trip

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OlyCapitalChick
OlyCapitalChick Posts: 236 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Going for the first time to Vegas in a couple of months and plan on staying near or at the Monte Carlo or MGM Grand.

Anyone have a favorite restaurant and food order they would like share that helps you stay on plan?
I have 30 more pounds to lose and this last 30 is SO HARD!!

I like all kinds of foods.
I plan on going very sparse on the booze and bread front and will be drinking lots of water.

Any wise menu suggestions or ideas would be great!!
Thank you in advance!

Replies

  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 9,979 Member
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    There's a great Japanese restaurant in front of the Monte Carlo (not sure if you can get to it from the casino -- I've only entered from the sidewalk next to the Strip (Las Vegas Blvd). It's called Yusho. They have sushi and grilled dishes that ought to be easy to fit in your calorie budget. (But I guess you'd want to stay away from the tempura and dumplings.)

    If you have self-control, I find it easy to put together a lower-calorie meal at the buffets: pile on the veggies and lean proteins, stay away from fried and heavily sauced dishes. I was really impressed with the Wicked Spoon, which is the buffet at the Cosmopolitan, last time I was there. There are lots of things worth a little splurge, and since almost everything on the buffet lines there is pre-portioned on little dishes (rather than put out in a huge pan that you serve yourself from), it's easier to exercise self-control. I'd pick out two or three things to splurge with what's usually just a couple of bites, and fill up on veggies and proteins.



  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
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    Buffet shell fish
  • hollyvalli
    hollyvalli Posts: 52 Member
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    El Dorado Cantina is what I treat myself with, GMO free and very fresh ingredients.
  • hollyvalli
    hollyvalli Posts: 52 Member
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    Skinny Fats, the healthy side of the menu. Greens and Proteins if you end up renting a car but it's pricey.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,493 Member
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    Always order off menu if you can. Just order what you want, most restaurants will cater to your order. I always go with baked/grilled meat, fresh veggies (I ask for no butter), baked potato/rice/sometimes french fries ;) and a side salad (dressing on the side, order with no croutons or cheese)

    You can also order salads made to order just specify no cheese, croutons, dressing on the side, etc etc

    Grilled chicken sandwiches are pretty good too, just request the bread unbuttered (many restaurants butter the bread before toasting) and no cheese, etc.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,493 Member
    edited July 2016
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    And buffets like others said, you cant go wrong, just dont load up on the pizza/wings/high calorie foods. Most places have wonderful salad bars!
  • skinnyforhi
    skinnyforhi Posts: 340 Member
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    These are great suggestions. The only super-close place to your suggested hotels that I've eaten at (that I can recommend) is CraftSteak at the MGM. It's a bit pricey (like the rest of the Strip) but you can easily put together something healthy-ish if you order a small cut of meat and vegetable sides. I don't love a steakhouse, but I really enjoyed my meal here. If you want a nice walk (and you probably will- in a few months it will cool down) Sushi Samba in the Venetian is super healthy and yummy- I would say that's a "must." I'm not sure if it's particularly healthy, but a guilty pleasure of mine has always been Canontina (Mexican food) in the Venetian while watching the gondolas go by. The restaurant is right on the "canal." I'd definitely try to walk around and take in the sites/people watching for some fun and mindless exercise, especially since it's your first time! Have so much fun- gah now I want to go to Vegas!!!

    *Ah- one more tip. You might want to pack some easy things for breakfast like protein bars or apples/peanut butter. If you're sleeping in anyway, it's probably kind of a waste to pay all that money for the breakfast buffets. The food in Vegas is way overpriced for what it is- it's good enough, but it's not world-class dining by any means. If you have some quick, healthy breakfast options you can save money, time, and calories. That's what I would do, especially if you want to somewhat track your meals. And don't forget to pack your sunscreen and just pay the checked baggage fee- it's $30 a bottle in the hotel lobby!!!
  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
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    Chipolte on the strip.
  • CatchMom11
    CatchMom11 Posts: 462 Member
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    Sugar Factory! I think the Paris location closed last year, but I'm pretty sure they re-opened at Fashion Show Mall.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 9,979 Member
    edited July 2016
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    skinnyforhi wrote: »
    These are great suggestions. The only super-close place to your suggested hotels that I've eaten at (that I can recommend) is CraftSteak at the MGM. It's a bit pricey (like the rest of the Strip) but you can easily put together something healthy-ish if you order a small cut of meat and vegetable sides. I don't love a steakhouse, but I really enjoyed my meal here. If you want a nice walk (and you probably will- in a few months it will cool down) Sushi Samba in the Venetian is super healthy and yummy- I would say that's a "must." I'm not sure if it's particularly healthy, but a guilty pleasure of mine has always been Canontina (Mexican food) in the Venetian while watching the gondolas go by. The restaurant is right on the "canal." I'd definitely try to walk around and take in the sites/people watching for some fun and mindless exercise, especially since it's your first time! Have so much fun- gah now I want to go to Vegas!!!

    *Ah- one more tip. You might want to pack some easy things for breakfast like protein bars or apples/peanut butter. If you're sleeping in anyway, it's probably kind of a waste to pay all that money for the breakfast buffets. The food in Vegas is way overpriced for what it is- it's good enough, but it's not world-class dining by any means. If you have some quick, healthy breakfast options you can save money, time, and calories. That's what I would do, especially if you want to somewhat track your meals. And don't forget to pack your sunscreen and just pay the checked baggage fee- it's $30 a bottle in the hotel lobby!!!

    When I'm on "me-time" in Vegas (I only go to Vegas for work, but usually I build in a day or two of vacation before the work events start), I usually sleep in late enough that I can have a late breakfast/early lunch/brunch, and the buffets are pretty good for that as well in terms of getting oatmeal, eggs, fruit, even some veggies if you want.* In fact, I probably do buffets more often for my first meal than for an evening meal, since eating at some of the more interesting restaurants is part of what I like to do in Vegas, along with walking, going to shows, and taking in all the free sights. I'm not much of a gambler.

    If you do forget to pack sunscreen or anything else, don't replace it at the shops in the lobby! There are at least three drugstores along the strip between the Venetian and the MGM. The only one I can pinpoint from memory is the Walgreens next to the Venetian, but the other two would be closer to the Monte Carlo. The walk to the drugstore will be good for your health, your calorie deficit, and your wallet.

    *ETA - if you want to save some money but still have a sit-down breakfast, most hotels have a "diner" style restaurant, frequently open 24-7, where you can get a bowl of oatmeal, fruit and juice/coffee/tea OR bacon/ham and eggs with toast and juice/coffee/tea for anywhere from a third to a half of what the buffet in the same hotel would cost you.
  • OlyCapitalChick
    OlyCapitalChick Posts: 236 Member
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    Thank you everyone so much!! so helpful you have no idea. I am a traveling newb for vegas. feeling more optimistic now. :)
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
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    You will never have an issue finding exactly what you want to eat on the Strip - healthy or not.

    We like the brunch buffet at Aria (so much seafood, my husband pretty much sweats crab after this one and a ton of healthy choices), brunch at Mon Ami Gabi in the Paris (more indulgent but excellent), lunch or dinner at Sushisamba in the Palazzo (or maybe Venetian?) where there are also a ton of lower-cal choices, and we especially love Javier's in Aria, which is Mexican and has this great board for two people that has a ton of grilled vegetables and meats.
  • NaturalNancy
    NaturalNancy Posts: 1,093 Member
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    I LOVE the buffet at the MGM , so many great choices if you can control yourself they have every kind of veggie, salad, protein, chicken, meat, seafood etc!

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