Vacation Diets are a BEACH.
Vacations.. a time for relaxation, a painful realization about my limited patience in an airport and usually gluttony that makes think you could win a hot dog eating contest (and if that’s how anyone finds a calling, I can only bow and applaud). However, I’m still on this path to healthy eating and attempting to look decent in a one piece swimsuit which is a battle that I’m convinced everyone loses except the Hadid sisters. When my best friend and I booked an all inclusive resort in Cabo on the cheapest website we could find, I immediately thought 5 days of horrific eating to get my moneys worth wasn’t going to put an end to this process. I’m certainly not capable of having a cheat meal type of diet but 5 days on vacation then going back to my routine will be cake. Oh! I can have cake on this vacation! Woo!
I’ve since changed my tune. It was sadder than Marley & Me’s “You’re a great dog, Marley”… No. No it wasn’t. Nothing will ever be. I’m sorry I brought that up. The issue now becomes, how does anyone diet while on vacation? My schedule will intentionally be open, I have no desire to inconvenience other people because it’s noon and that’s food time per my usual schedule. Also while I’m not really a drinker, how do I decide the line between relaxation and too much? My saving grace on that front is even looking at anything frozen or like it should have an umbrella gives me a headache. Also I’ve been limited my carbs so too much will make my stomach turn against me like the birthday cake fiasco in my 5th grade homeroom.
So here are my rules for vacationing. Will I follow them? I hope so. Is it entirely possible I write back in a week that I missed cake too much and we all get to laugh together? It’s likely. I miss chocolate, she and I have been through some stuff together.
Don’t drink the calories. Hydration is important when vacations are hard on the skin. A body full of water might be less hungry throughout the day too. A few light beers at the end of the day is my game plan and maybe a body like J.J. Watt will be my reward. It’s important to dream.
Eat a plate full of vegetables or fruit first. Yes, I heard this as a kid and I am at risk at getting an “I told you so” from my mother but it’s a risk I’m willing to take. A less full belly will be able to resist more than one screaming “ME LIKE COOKIES” in cookie monster voice.
Pick snacks like I pick friends, carefully. When planning the day and what’s getting thrown into my backpack, snacks are going to reflect the type of day I’m having. If it’s a chill day at the beach, hydrating foods like apples or melons will be my main focus. If I’m going hiking or doing something active, some healthy carbs like bananas or hummus will be in my bag.
Leaving something on my plate. Even as I’m writing this, I feel anxiety and guilt about potentially leaving food on my plate to be thrown away. I like to believe a waiter will eat it in the back too but maybe that was just me and everyone else is a clean human, who knows. Overeating has always been an issue for me. I stop in that moment when I feel like I want the pregnancy pants Joey wears in Friends at Thanksgiving. It’s okay to leave something for the sake of health and hopefully I learn that on this trip.
So tell me, what are your rules for vacation?
