Help me stick to a healthy diet while on holiday
December 10, 2013 2:12 PM Subscribe
So I have majorly changed the way I have been eating over the past 6 months, and it seems to be working so far. (Yay!) I will be going on an all-inclusive week long vacation in Mexico with a large group of family at the end of January. They love to party and eat, and so do I, but I know that a combination of drinking a lot, eating too many carbs, and staying up late make me super tired, unhappy, and break out. I'm looking for specific strategies to stay on track while I'm at the resort. I intend to enjoy myself, but still not go overboard with the booze, and mostly try to eat well so I don't feel like crap at the end of the week. This is literally the first time in my life I have made significant progress on changing my diet and lifestyle and I don't want to fall back too much. Last time I was at a resort there was lots of food to pick from but most of it was the "standard american diet" with lots of carbs and way too few fresh veggies. What foods can I bring with me and things should I look for on menus to stay close to my healthy diet without making it too difficult to enjoy my all-inclusive vacation?
My diet:
- minimal processed carbs, lots of veggies
- protein with every meal
- avoiding fried stuff and unhealthy fats, eating lots of healthy fats such as nuts, etc.
- avoiding sugar
- not too much caffeine
- avoiding too much milk and gluten (small amounts ok)
- not cutting any calories, eating until full, lots of high quality natural food
Ideas so far:
- bring packages of almonds for snacks (I eat lots of almonds and they keep me full)
- Don't eat everything on my plate, leave out the processed carbs
- Order drinks with diet soda, limit # of alchohol each day, don't start drinking until evening
- Drink tons of bottled water
- checking menus beforehand to look for healthy options rather than giving in to the nearest thing that is handy or whatever everyone else is eating when i'm hungry
- Go to bed earlier even if everyone is up partying still because they will be calling my room at 9 am when they are already at breakfast (I seem to need a lot more sleep than the 7 hours my family finds ok)
What are your coping strategies for eating well and staying healthy when you are not at home?
My diet:
- minimal processed carbs, lots of veggies
- protein with every meal
- avoiding fried stuff and unhealthy fats, eating lots of healthy fats such as nuts, etc.
- avoiding sugar
- not too much caffeine
- avoiding too much milk and gluten (small amounts ok)
- not cutting any calories, eating until full, lots of high quality natural food
Ideas so far:
- bring packages of almonds for snacks (I eat lots of almonds and they keep me full)
- Don't eat everything on my plate, leave out the processed carbs
- Order drinks with diet soda, limit # of alchohol each day, don't start drinking until evening
- Drink tons of bottled water
- checking menus beforehand to look for healthy options rather than giving in to the nearest thing that is handy or whatever everyone else is eating when i'm hungry
- Go to bed earlier even if everyone is up partying still because they will be calling my room at 9 am when they are already at breakfast (I seem to need a lot more sleep than the 7 hours my family finds ok)
What are your coping strategies for eating well and staying healthy when you are not at home?
Well, I can tell you one thing NOT to do: eat salad or any raw veggies. I know these are healthier, but they are the top thing to avoid when going to Mexico, even if your resort promises to only use filtered water.
I think the best thing you can do is to try to stick with your current eating schedule (ie eat meals when you normally would, no snacks if you don't typically snack, etc) and go with smaller portion sizes. Avoid carbs like chips, tacos, beans and rice, and go for the entrees that consist of cooked meat + veg. If you're in a coastal part of Mexico you'll probably find a lot of seafood options that will be lighter than eating carne asada every day. Your plan of only having drinks in the evening is a good one too!
And finally, don't beat yourself up if you splurge. It's a vacation, after all.
posted by joan_holloway at 2:33 PM on December 10, 2013
I think the best thing you can do is to try to stick with your current eating schedule (ie eat meals when you normally would, no snacks if you don't typically snack, etc) and go with smaller portion sizes. Avoid carbs like chips, tacos, beans and rice, and go for the entrees that consist of cooked meat + veg. If you're in a coastal part of Mexico you'll probably find a lot of seafood options that will be lighter than eating carne asada every day. Your plan of only having drinks in the evening is a good one too!
And finally, don't beat yourself up if you splurge. It's a vacation, after all.
posted by joan_holloway at 2:33 PM on December 10, 2013
On cruises, I eat lots of fresh fruit and walk & dance as much as possible.
posted by editorgrrl at 2:33 PM on December 10, 2013
posted by editorgrrl at 2:33 PM on December 10, 2013
Move more. Swim, dance, whatever it is. I end up eating more carbs when I'm on trips just to support the fact that I tend to end up walking all over creation, and rather than leaving me with the post-carb blech I end up feeling quite amazing and sleeping way better than usual. It helps, when this involves family, to be able to talk other people into doing it along with you, of course. (And in support of this, if walking is included, be sure to do stuff like packing good walking shoes because I've forgotten that part of the plan a couple times.)
posted by Sequence at 2:34 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Sequence at 2:34 PM on December 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: On the drinks front: if I'm trying to limit either my drinks or my calories in drinks, I'll usually just have club soda with lime. It is a "freebie" and it also has the benefit of looking like an alcoholic drink. I find that drinking diet coke + whiskey, for example, just makes me feel worse the next day because of the artificial sweeteners--I usually opt for one or two "real drinks" and the rest club soda.
posted by stellaluna at 2:37 PM on December 10, 2013
posted by stellaluna at 2:37 PM on December 10, 2013
Best answer: Stick to lots of protein. I also try to drink alcoholic drinks that are just vodka, soda and a squeeze of lime/lemon. Very few calories, very few sugars, and no diet soda. I'd also bring a fiber supplement.
posted by quince at 2:55 PM on December 10, 2013
posted by quince at 2:55 PM on December 10, 2013
Response by poster: Should I really not eat any fresh veggies? Last time I was in Mexico I ate lots and I was fine. We are staying at a 5 star resort with filtered water. I am not going to try and avoid all fresh fruits and veggies, because I will definitely end up eating too many carbs.
Keep the ideas coming, lots of good suggestions.
posted by photoexplorer at 3:09 PM on December 10, 2013
Keep the ideas coming, lots of good suggestions.
posted by photoexplorer at 3:09 PM on December 10, 2013
It's fine, that's ancient advice from the 70s. As long as you do not use a neti pot with tap water you'll be fine.
Nearly all the vegetables and fruit at your resort are going to be soaked in iodine water or whatever it is. I forget the brand name we used to use.
Most parts of Mexico have a pretty big fruit culture regarding licuados, batida, aguas frescas, salads and stuff.
Go crazy.
posted by hobo gitano de queretaro at 3:26 PM on December 10, 2013
Nearly all the vegetables and fruit at your resort are going to be soaked in iodine water or whatever it is. I forget the brand name we used to use.
Most parts of Mexico have a pretty big fruit culture regarding licuados, batida, aguas frescas, salads and stuff.
Go crazy.
posted by hobo gitano de queretaro at 3:26 PM on December 10, 2013
Best answer: You will be fine with the veggies. Resorts of any caliber know what's what (even one star resorts).
Fruits! The fruits in Mexico are great, especially for breakfast and a snack.
The bringing of fruits and nuts and seeds between the US and Mexico is illegal, by the way. You should have no problems finding snacking nuts though. If you do, why not grab a friend and go on a (bonus - non-boozy!) adventure to a local grocery outside the resort? It's fun!
Avocados - Mexico has amazing avocados. They can replace nuts. Also: huevos rancheros. And go nuts with the salsas and hot sauces.
Mexico also has some lovely coffees - it's nice to have coffee near the waves.
Resorts advertise relaxation and indulgence. However, almost all of them have a fitness center. Pledge to use it for an hour each morning before the day gets crazy, OR, take an hour walk each morning (or run, if you run). Try to enlist one or two of those partiers - helps burn off the hangover.
Find any excuse to move - go swim, look for shells if there is a beach, snorkel (fabulous in Mexico), etc. If they are all going nuts drinking, try to involve or work in an activity and focus on that rather than drinking (e.g. Playing pool or dancing).
If any of them give you a hard time, make them eat the worm! :)
posted by floweredfish at 4:03 PM on December 10, 2013
Fruits! The fruits in Mexico are great, especially for breakfast and a snack.
The bringing of fruits and nuts and seeds between the US and Mexico is illegal, by the way. You should have no problems finding snacking nuts though. If you do, why not grab a friend and go on a (bonus - non-boozy!) adventure to a local grocery outside the resort? It's fun!
Avocados - Mexico has amazing avocados. They can replace nuts. Also: huevos rancheros. And go nuts with the salsas and hot sauces.
Mexico also has some lovely coffees - it's nice to have coffee near the waves.
Resorts advertise relaxation and indulgence. However, almost all of them have a fitness center. Pledge to use it for an hour each morning before the day gets crazy, OR, take an hour walk each morning (or run, if you run). Try to enlist one or two of those partiers - helps burn off the hangover.
Find any excuse to move - go swim, look for shells if there is a beach, snorkel (fabulous in Mexico), etc. If they are all going nuts drinking, try to involve or work in an activity and focus on that rather than drinking (e.g. Playing pool or dancing).
If any of them give you a hard time, make them eat the worm! :)
posted by floweredfish at 4:03 PM on December 10, 2013
Best answer: does your all-inclusive have a buffet restaurant, or just the a-la-carte restaurants? buffet SEEMS more unhealthy, but I actually find it easier in these kinds of circumstances.
most nice resorts in tropical countries have a really great fruit spread, so I'd do meals like this:
drink a giant glass of water about 5-10 minutes before you plan to eat, (I do this because while it doesn't make me not hungry, it makes me less RAVENOUSLY hungry)
then grab your plate, swing by the fruits and veggies and salads first and do that, and then go fill up whatever room you have left with the best looking meats and not-too-starchy sides you can find.
I like this strategy too, because it looks less like "dieting" to people you're with, it just looks like you are eating things you like, and they're less likely to give you a hard time about it.
I strangely had a really easy time staying on track last time I went to an all-inclusive, they had lots of nice looking sliced meats and hard boiled eggs and nuts and tons of fruit. I find it super easy to avoid starch when there's a million mangoes to be eaten.
if you want to stay up and party, just have a nap during the hottest part of the day. Siesta!
posted by euphoria066 at 4:03 PM on December 10, 2013
most nice resorts in tropical countries have a really great fruit spread, so I'd do meals like this:
drink a giant glass of water about 5-10 minutes before you plan to eat, (I do this because while it doesn't make me not hungry, it makes me less RAVENOUSLY hungry)
then grab your plate, swing by the fruits and veggies and salads first and do that, and then go fill up whatever room you have left with the best looking meats and not-too-starchy sides you can find.
I like this strategy too, because it looks less like "dieting" to people you're with, it just looks like you are eating things you like, and they're less likely to give you a hard time about it.
I strangely had a really easy time staying on track last time I went to an all-inclusive, they had lots of nice looking sliced meats and hard boiled eggs and nuts and tons of fruit. I find it super easy to avoid starch when there's a million mangoes to be eaten.
if you want to stay up and party, just have a nap during the hottest part of the day. Siesta!
posted by euphoria066 at 4:03 PM on December 10, 2013
Fruits and veggies will be disinfected in a 5 star resort. The "avoid veggies in Mexico" advice only applies if you buy pre-cut fruit or vegetables on the street, where they might be polluted with dust.
Eat a lot of fruits and veggies, stick to mineral water and avoid resort drinks like piña coladas and daiquiris. The buffets in these kinds of resorts have a lot of options, and I've found the most unhealthy options are things like hot dogs, french fries, pizza, etc.
Stick to meat, chicken, seafood and fresh or steamed vegetables. Snack on fresh veggies like jícama: super fresh and almost no calories.
posted by clearlydemon at 4:04 PM on December 10, 2013
Eat a lot of fruits and veggies, stick to mineral water and avoid resort drinks like piña coladas and daiquiris. The buffets in these kinds of resorts have a lot of options, and I've found the most unhealthy options are things like hot dogs, french fries, pizza, etc.
Stick to meat, chicken, seafood and fresh or steamed vegetables. Snack on fresh veggies like jícama: super fresh and almost no calories.
posted by clearlydemon at 4:04 PM on December 10, 2013
Best answer: Lots of people have already covered the food aspect. I think it might also help to make a mental list (maybe even a mantra) of the benefits you get from eating this way. For example, if it makes you feel more energetic, then that could be something you focus on when it's time to make food choices. ("I'd like to feel energetic tomorrow so I can enjoy playing on the beach..." or things like that.) And congrats on your success, btw!
posted by purple_bird at 4:59 PM on December 10, 2013
posted by purple_bird at 4:59 PM on December 10, 2013
You've got lots of suggestions already, I would also include focusing on the fish/seafood. Incredibly good for you, and relatively low in calories. One large prawn only has 6 calories. Lots of exercise is also a great plan.
For me the danger is coming home. Often I'll feel a bit blah from the combo of plane food and jetlag and having to go back to work. I'll have put on 2kg just from the flight and the extra salt/carbs I've been eating, and I won't want to go back to my routine. However, if I can go shopping as soon as I get back and fill my house with healthy food, and get back into habitual exercise, I can lose the 2kg in a few days, and the holiday doesn't really effect me. If I fall into giant postholiday funk, I put on even more weight and it can take me a month or more to get back into gear.
posted by kjs4 at 6:32 PM on December 10, 2013
For me the danger is coming home. Often I'll feel a bit blah from the combo of plane food and jetlag and having to go back to work. I'll have put on 2kg just from the flight and the extra salt/carbs I've been eating, and I won't want to go back to my routine. However, if I can go shopping as soon as I get back and fill my house with healthy food, and get back into habitual exercise, I can lose the 2kg in a few days, and the holiday doesn't really effect me. If I fall into giant postholiday funk, I put on even more weight and it can take me a month or more to get back into gear.
posted by kjs4 at 6:32 PM on December 10, 2013
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