Tips for eating clean on vacation?

[marthand99]

I'm going on vacation in a couple of weeks and was wondering if any of y'all had any tips on eating reasonably healthy while on the road?

Specifically, I'm a little worried about going to Disney World. We'll be spending 4 days there, and I feel like everything in the park is going to be deep fried and/or a total sugary carb fest.

I thought about just going with the flow and eating what I want but trying not to get too crazy, which is what I'll probably do. I guess what makes me nervous is that I'm about to start bringing my calories up after a cut and the last thing I want to do is gain a bunch of weight and have to go on a diet again after getting back. Especially since it will also be my week off from lifting.

What do you do when you go on vacation? Do you try to eat clean, or just let it go while you're on the trip?

[LisaS]

there is probably something in between "perfectly clean just like at home" and "out of control eat everything in sight without regard to sugar or fat or calories or both"

try for that middle at a place like Disney.

[Lost Dog]

There are regular restaurants there. Salads, chicken sandwiches, etc.

How close you can follow what you do at home depends on how you eat at home. Low carb might be really boring there (salads and bunless burgers might be it).

One option is to eat right at the hotel when possible, buy healthy snacks and carry them in your purse or pack, and limit yourself to the number of "normal" park meals per day.

[kfisherx]

I always try to eat "clean" when I travel. I am mostly able to do it in country. I can never eat lower than 25% fat though so I have to adjust my macro expectation a bit. Other than that it isn't really that hard to make decent choices when out. I would definately pack food into a theme park though. Lots of it.

[KasiaMJ]

I'll be traveling for almost a month in May and I just can't imagine to eat out everyday, several times a day. When I travel I usually pack as many healthy and portable snacks as possible and bring a small cooler with me so I can stock it with fresh food as I go. Also most hotel rooms have a mini bar, which I empty and put my own food in. It only sounds like a lot of trouble, but really it's not that hard to eat healthy on the go. I am actually more worried about the workouts on this trip. We all know, that most hotel gyms are pretty basic.

[Ruthie]

I just came back from a week's holiday which I was worried about for similar reasons to you. In fact I did not gain weight at all, which is unheard of for me on holiday. I didn't particularly try to eat clean and I drank alcohol most evenings but the following rules helped me:

1. Don't start the holiday eating before the holiday begins. Often with the mad rush getting ready and the feeling of "what's the point, I'm going to put this all back on on holiday" I tend to let my good eating slip the week before I go.
2. Eat a proper clean breakfast every day even if the rest of your meals are not great.
3. Only eat something that's not clean if it's really worth eating. So eat whatever you like but don't waste calories on stuff that doesn't taste that good or that you don't really really enjoy. (Obviously sometimes you have no choice.)
4. Don't stop eating your fruit and veg. I find I only have room for so much food and subconciously I tend to reduce my fruit and veg and fill up with other stuff.
5. Stop eating before you are really stuffed.
6. Don't let it spoil your holiday and don't feel guilty when you have to choose the less healthy options .

Ruth

[Phaedrus49er]

I usually hit a grocery store if I'm going to be in one place for awhile. Of course, the problem with that on a vacation is that the mini-fridge only holds so much beer, leaving less room for healthy food

[rixatrix]

I think you can probably make healthy choices, even eating out, as long as you don't let yourself get too hungry. If you carry a snack or two at all times - something hearty, like a nut mix or beef jerky or something similarly filling and not just carbs - you'll have control over your hunger pangs. And then you can pretty much order healthier food anywhere - as long as you're super nice to the waitress. "Can I get that dry, dressing on the side, with extra vegetables instead of french fries?" Just think When Harry Met Sally.

[Bytsi]

At Disney in particular, I found that EPCOT was a good resource for healthier foods - "the land" and "the body" both had some really good quick food choices... But as Lost Dog mentioned, you can find salads and relatively decent choices all over the parks - it's not all just hot dogs and fries there...

[marthand99]

Thanks, everyone!

[jessie]

Actually, I was at Blizzard Beach a few weeks ago and I was afraid I'd have to have a cheeseburger and fries -- but! then I discovered a grilled chicken salad w/ a side of carrots and green apples instead.

When I go away, I usually pack protein powder in plastic baggies so I always have the option of making a quick shake.

[PowerManDL]

You'd have to eat a hell of a lot in 4 days to make any difference in your body comp.

Just sayin'.

[marthand99]

Originally Posted by PowerManDL

You'd have to eat a hell of a lot in 4 days to make any difference in your body comp.

Just sayin'.

LOL. Moderation is not my strong suit.