Vacation...diet sabotage?

Another common diet difficulty we face is…vacation!  Vacation, one of the most common “had a bad month” reasons I am given after a less than ideal month of following my dietary recommendations.  Vacations to the beach, to the mountains, on a cruise, out of the country, or maybe just a “stay-cation” in town with visiting friends or family.  Regardless, on vacation you’re missing your usual day-to-day routine and most often your day-to-day environment and eating pattern. 

Does vacationing mean you fall off the wagon?  You know, the consistent exercise and healthy eating wagon?  You eat on the way to where you’re going, eat where you vacation, and eat on the way back, but what do you eat?  Fast food, convenience store snacks, big breakfasts, big lunches, big dinners and special desserts of course.  Is there some way we could avoid the “oh my goodness, I’ve got to get back on track” feeling after being filled to the brim for more than a couple of days?

Sure.  Planning is a good place to start.  Absolutely plan in some meals that are special to your vacation.  Plan in some local fare, unique to your destination, or an extravagant night out, or maybe a potluck style cookout, potato salad and all.  Then plan how you’ll stay in control.  Why leave snacking to chance and to whatever you can find on the road? (Chips, candy, and Combos anyone?) Pack some of your usual healthy snacks to manage the ride to your destination and for those between-meal cravings.  If you are packed and ready with healthy snacks (whether packed prior to departure or picked up at the local grocery upon arrival), you can be confident that you won’t end up overly hungry by meal time and don’t have a “we don’t have anything” excuse to pick up a less ideal choice.

Eating out on vacation may pose the greatest challenge.  New, exciting food choices and meals that come with the no less than the expected BIG portions.  Set some parameters.  For example, always have a serving of fruit or vegetables with every meal.  Doing this will guarantee some good nutrient intake and prevent a plate of beige (you know what I mean…fried, biscuit, fried, bread, fried).  Another idea, skip the appetizers.  Think of it as saving more room to actually enjoy the main dish, because, let’s not kid ourselves, although we may be pushing “full” after an appetizer and maybe a drink, who’s going to pass up the main event, the main dish that took such careful consideration to choose?  But does it really feel good to eat ALL of that.  Now you’re overly full, maybe a little uncomfortable, and wishing you had stopped sooner.  Remove the appetizer and enjoy your company and conversation instead.  You’ll thank yourself after your meal, having avoided an overstuffed feeling, saved many calories, and not to mention saved a few bucks.

We planned out our vacation this year.  We would eat breakfast and lunch in, with foods we’ve packed along from home (and maybe a couple additions from the grocery when we arrive), and enjoy our dinners out (veggies included of course).  Breakfast will be a bowl of whole grain cereal (choices dependent on my less than $3 rule and a low combined sugar content) and a piece of fruit.  Lunch will be baked chicken sandwiches (a yummy buffalo garlic marinated chicken baked a day ahead) on whole wheat bread with reduced fat cheese.  Snacks may include fruit and whole grain bars if needed.  I think we’re set to enjoy some great sight-seeing and time together without a worry about what we’ll have to eat or worry of feeling icky on our return.  Perfect.

A little planning goes a long way.  Try it.