Beach vacations bring plenty of appetizing food choices.
Since I’ve recently returned from a 10-day vacation in sunny Barbados at Crystal Cove Resort, I thought I’d share some nutrition tips for enjoying the luxury of all-inclusive food and drink. Everyone needs a holiday from controlled calorie or carb intake (two good strategies for weight loss) once in a while. Flexibility can be a great thing.
By planning ahead you can minimize the impact on your weight loss progress.
Getting back on track when you return home will be a whole lot easier if you
Follow These Nutrition Guidelines On Your Next All-Inclusive Vacation:
1) Keep Your Protein Intake high
As you approach the buffet, look around first for the protein sources that look most appetizing to you (grilled fish or chicken, steaks, seafood, unprocessed meats).
Fill your plate with your favourites before adding the carbs. When you get to the table, eat your proteins first.
That leaves a lot less space for the less-nutritious carbs.
2) Choose Your Treats Carefully
The allure of the all-inclusive buffet is powerful, but chances are that many of the same foods will be back again tomorrow or later in the week.
Pick a few dishes that look particularly tasty and leave the others for a potential taste later in the week.
3) Pack Your Supplements
Eating more food than usual means your digestive system needs extra support.
So pack those digestive enzymes!
Probiotics can reduce your chances of catching a stomach bug by keeping your levels of “good” bacteria high to fight infections off.
When your intake of carbs is higher than usual, taking fish oils can be help keep your blood sugar regulated (other fat and protein sources do this too).
4) Don’t Go Too Far Out Of Your Normal Routine
Dessert for lunch? You probably wouldn’t do it at home and there’s no need to go completely off the rails on your holiday.
It’s great to have a nice dessert at the end of a meal once in a while, but don’t force yourself just because it’s available.
Plan when you’re going to have your special meals on holiday and keep your carbs low otherwise.
5) Reduce The Carb Content Of Your Drinks
Pina Coladas and Daiquiris seem like the ultimate tropical drinks, but they’re extremely high in sugar.
Sure, have one or two of the local speciality and then stick to lower-carb drinks like vodka soda with lime, rum or whiskey on the rocks, wine, or martinis without the extra syrup.
If you want that alcohol buzz without the extra sugary hangover then keep the mixers (especially sweet liquors) to a minimum.
The Bottom Line
Yes, you want to enjoy yourself and be flexible on your all-inclusive holiday.
But stuffing yourself with as much food as you can eat and sipping sugary drinks all day long is only going to make you feel bloated and lethargic, both during your holiday and when you get back to reality.
With a little planning, you can enjoy the food and beverage delights of your all-inclusive holiday, be frolicking on the beach during the day, and still be dancing the night away.
Bon voyage!
Ivana Chapman
