Vacation Dieting Tips

You decided it was time to get down to a healthy weight so you started a weight loss program. Now that it is time for vacation, you are trying to decide how to make your program work without ruining your vacation. It is possible to stay on your diet without having to eat bland foods.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

Get dressed and head straight for breakfast as soon as you wake up in the morning. By eating breakfast, you minimize the risk that you will overindulge in food later in the day. You also lay the foundation for your metabolism to stay revved all day and provide you with energy to enjoy your vacation. A whole grain waffle topped with fresh fruit and nuts, scrambled egg substitute or egg whites and a cup of milk is a healthy, hearty breakfast that will get you going. For an added treat, ask for some whipped topping on the side so you can add a bit to your waffle.

Make it a Backwards Day

Breakfast should be your largest meal of the day since you have all day to work off the calories. This is also the meal where you can go slightly off your diet if you want. With that being said, if you want to enjoy a nice 'dinner' meal while you are on vacation, find a restaurant that serves dinner entrees all day long. Order a big dinner plate at breakfast time, have a medium sized lunch and then have a small 'breakfast' meal for dinner. It is kind of like having a backwards day.

Sample Local Cuisine

Most restaurants offer regional foods as appetizers. Take advantage of these smaller portions to help you eat yummy foods and stay on your diet. Even if the restaurant doesn't have local cuisine appetizers, you can still enjoy local foods. Ask your meal partner to share a local dish with you. If she isn't on a diet, she can always help you eat the shared dish and grab another one for herself. Or, you can ask the server to place half of the meal in a to-go box to bring back to your hotel room-just be sure that you have a refrigerator and microwave so you can enjoy it later.

Make a Day of It

If you are worried that you will blow your daily diet if you try to eat lavishly on every day of your vacation, plan to forget about your diet on the last day of your vacation. If you eat the high-fat and high-calorie foods on the last day of your vacation, you will be less likely to remain off your diet longer than that day because you will be heading home to familiar surroundings and your diet support system.