My experiences eating (and drinking!) on vacation...
...and strategies you can use to enjoy your future vacations, guilt-free!
We just got back from Miami, Orlando, and Hawaii… where we were traveling for just about 3 weeks!
I’m pretty sure that’s the longest I've been away from home at one time EVER! (But I’m not mad we missed the bomb cyclone snow storm at home!)
It took a lot of anxiety management and adjusting to new routines, time zones, and schedules to make it happen, but I did it and had a really, really great time!
Yesterday, as we were driving to the Honolulu airport to fly back to Boston, my boyfriend Jarrod asked me if there was anything I’d change or do differently about our trip.
My answer: get more Malasadas ;) (More on these below!)
But seriously, I wouldn’t change anything; we had a really great time, managed working and exploring, and eating delicious foods! We spent 5 days in Miami, then 3 days in Orlando, and then almost two weeks in Hawaii!
Over those weeks, I actually did a workout a total of 6 times, and was really glad that I had packed my resistance bands, so had some options aside from strictly body-weight movements. Those 6 workouts were much lower than my average would be over 3 weeks… but we walked a TON and stayed pretty active, got decent sleep, and enjoyed some more indulgent foods balanced with home-cooked meals and healthy/hearty foods!
Here are some of my favorite foods and drinks from the travels:
My favorite drink: The “Negrita” from Toro Toro in Miami!
It contains: Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila, pineapple, lime, blackberry agave.
Oh my goshhhh this was delicious… and I almost didn’t get one (was gonna stick with the Miami Mules, which were also delicious) but I’m so glad I ventured out and got one of these.
My second favorite drink: This cafe mocha from Aloha Pineapple Cafe in Honolulu
I think I got this coffee 4 times while in Hawaii…. 3 hots, and 1 iced… they were all awesome! I’m usually a big snob and say that I don’t like to drink my calories, because I prefer to eat my calories and otherwise drink mostly water/seltzer, but I made an exception for this beverage, many times!
My favorite meals:
This breakfast crepe from Cafe Paradiso in Miami! Okay, this was awesome… it’s a crepe, filled with eggs, pickled onions, peppers, potatoes, guacamole, bacon… all with a salad on the side! Talk about high-quality, delicious foods!
Our meal at Toro Toro (the same place the Negrita is from) was also amazing! I don’t have pictures, but between 4 people we shared both of these platters:
And also got sides of Brussel sprouts, potatoes, truffle fries, and mac and cheese!! *Chefs kiss*
Toscana Divinio in Miami! I’ve been to this place a few times now during my trips to Miami and this place never disappoints! It’s a little bit on the higher end of the price range, but worth it if you’re looking for amazing Italian food paired with a sommelier to help you pick your wines!
Again, unfortunately no pictures, but I shared the ravioli and filet minion, among sides of roasted carrots and smokey mashed potatoes! Amazing!
My favorite treats:
Ah yes, the malasada! It’s a fried donut covered in sugar! Like, how can that combo be anything but AMAZING?! It’s a little crunchy on the outside, but so soft and fluffy on the inside! Here’s a picture of one:
Maybe it’s a good thing we waited until so late in our trip to get one of these… because if I had one sooner I likely would have gone back on the daily!
Here’s my first bite:
And a smiley, sugar-on-the-lips smile! haha! So good!
My second favorite treat: Dole Whip from the Dole Cannery!
Pineapple ice cream straight from the source:
Never in my life did I think I’d go for pineapple ice cream, but, when in Rome/at the Dole Plantation, it’s what you get! Super delicious and refreshing on that hot day!
And if you follow my personal Instagram account (@SaraECallahan), you saw the wide variety of Hawaiian flowers that I was OBSESSED with while there! Here’s a sampling:
Here are a few more random photos from the experience:
Okay, okay…. Thank you for indulging me in sharing all the things I enjoyed over my vacation!
Now, what about the logistics about how we can enjoy our vacations, still eat and drink the things we want to, in a way that makes sense for our overall goals?!
Great questions!
First of all, a little definition… social eating is anything that includes eating with others, where you may have less control over your food (restaurants, dinner parties, etc). This may also include meals with family, or when you’re on vacation!
When you think about your experiences with social/vacation eating, start by asking yourself this question... How "strict" am I currently being with my food plan?
If the answer is that you're not currently being super strict, and that you have some flexibility in the timing of your goals, then you may be able to afford to go all out and have whatever you want! If this situation happens every once in a while it's NOT the end of the world... plan to enjoy yourself, have the foods you want, eat until you feel about 85% full, and don't worry about how many carbs or proteins are in it. And just know that if you weigh yourself in the morning, that number might be a little bit higher than the day before... and that's absolutely FINE and normal. And, an indulgent meal like this every once in a while will NOT derail your overall progress.
For many of us, it is absolutely okay if you have 1-3 meals/treats per week that are a little bit off plan. Think about it this way.... if we eat 21 meals per week, and two or three of them are "off" then that is 10-14% of your food that isn't exactly within your plan. That also means that ~NINETY PERCENT is on plan! Which is wonderful. We want our eating to be manageable for a lifetime, which means allowing for restaurants, treats, parties, and pizza every once in a while.
Alternatively, if you would like to be more mindful of your vacation eating/restaurant choices, or if you are being more strict, (maybe you have a competitive weightlifting competition coming up and you have to make a certain weight for, etc.) then here are some suggestions to help you stay on track:
*Be mindful of your intake before/after going out to eat. While you don't want to be ravenous when you get to the restaurant, you might make conscious choices in the meals throughout the rest of the day. Sticking to lighter carbs and proteins during the day can give you more room, calorically speaking, at your “social meal”!
*If you know where you're going in advance, you can look at the menu ahead of time and make the choice that most closely fits your food plan; most times, this allows for more “educated” decisions than when hunger may be fueling our choices.
*Focus on proteins and veggies as much as you can! Even if you're not able to look at the menu ahead of time, focusing on choosing meals that are high in proteins and veggies is perfect! Gravitate towards things you know are healthy choices for you!
*When making choices, ask yourself "How will eating this make me feel?" This is a big one. Feeling super full, bloated, and having that I-need-to-unbutton-my-pants feeling after a meal isn't fun. And if you know which foods can make you feel like that, you can stay away from them.
*Eat until you're about 85% full. And remember, in most cases, you can take any leftover food home to eat another day so as not to waste it.
*Be mindful of alcohol intake. Yes, alcohol has calories and they add up, so sticking to light beers, wines, or liquors with calorie-free mixers are great options. But even more so, alcohol intake can sway your food choices, so keep an eye out for those impacts. And mix in some waters where you can, just for good measure!
*Depending on what social situations you find yourself in, you can start to become more aware of your “weaknesses”... move yourself physically away from the appetizer table after you have one serving, move the bread basket away from you after you have a piece, etc.
What about extended vacation eating?
It IS still possible to stick to the general idea of your plan while eating out and on vacation.
*If you’re eating out at a restaurant: you can use similar strategies to those mentioned above and pick your meal from the menu in advance, stick to protein and veggies!
*As best as possible, stick to your typical food plan through about 3pm each day. So, you’re aiming to eat as “regular” a breakfast, lunch, and snacks as possible. This allows for a little more adventure to be available to you later in the day!
*When presented with your food options, focus on making the BETTER choice, even if it’s not the most nutritious!
*Hit your water! Staying hydrated helps us process the food we’re eating. And, as noted above, be mindful of alcohol intake!
*Keep yourself moving! Go for walks, hikes, or adventures with your crew that allow for some movement or playing!
*If possible, cook some meals at your vacation “home base.” Depending on where you’re staying, you might have access to refrigerators, stoves, ovens, microwaves, etc! If you do, aim to eat some high-quality foods at home, as opposed to eating every meal out at restaurants! This might be more difficult if you’re staying at a hotel, but you might be able to still keep foods like produce, yogurts, deli meats, and hard boiled eggs cold!
These are the strategies that I used while traveling and they proved to be helpful! Give them a try next time you’re out and about!
And even if things don’t go exactly to plan on your adventures, take time to think about how it all went and strategize around what you might do differently next time… there’s no use dwelling on the challenges after they happen, but instead preparing for future challenges!
What do you think of these tips?! Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
xoxo,
Sara