WIAW #9: What I Eat on Vacation

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!

Today I am coming to you from the midst of a vacation, and trip home to Orlando, Florida.

For most, eating healthy away from home can be one heck of a challenge. The old “it’s fine… I’m on vacation” is a common excuse, but shouldn’t be used more than a few days if you are looking to maintain your weight and normal healthy eating routine when the vacation ends.

If  you are gone from home for an extended period of time (like this trip for me!), it is important to keep your regular every day eating habits in tact as much as possible. If you usually eat a bigger lunch and a smaller dinner, try to stick to it. If you substitute an occasional smoothie for a meal, find a smoothie place you like and make a goal to try a variety of them.

This vacation is all about catching up with friends and family for me. My calendar is quickly filling up with lunch and dinner dates, and I have spent the last few days eating out at a lot of restaurants. (Sorry, wallet!)

Today I am sharing how I eat a variety of good food on trips, without gaining the extra vacation weight that can sometimes come with it.

Breakfast

Since I am staying with family, I have an advantage of eating breakfast at home. This is my opportunity to eat most like I do at my home and it usually starts with oatmeal, Greek yogurt, or eggwhites.

Yesterday was two over-medium eggs (no yolks) with a small slice of low-fat American cheese. I knew I would be having two large meals later on with friends, so wanted to keep it extra light.

Lunch – Powerhouse Cafe

Winter Park – Orlando, Florida

I spent lunch through the afternoon taking a class and hanging with a friend from my old barre studio. Revisiting that place made me realize how much I miss it! I will be sure to share more about it later on in the trip.

After class, Amanda and I walked over to Park Avenue and ate at one of our favorite smoothie places: Power House Cafe. She is definitely into eating clean, and since neither one of us could decide what to get we ordered three things and split them all!

First, we started with a Carob Treat Smoothie (left out the chocolate chips and honey) with pineapple, bananas, cocount, and peanut butter. I couldn’t go to Powerhouse withouget getting the vegetarian chili, so we split a large cup of that.

Our main “entree” was the Power House Salad with romaine lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocados, raisins, and sunflower seeds topped with a huge serving of hummus. It came garnished with tabbouleh, but since she has an allergy to it I got it wrapped up on the side to enjoy later.

Dinner – Greek Flame Taverna

Dr. Phillips – Orlando, Florida

I had a good five hours until dinner, but before I knew it I was on my way to meet a few friends from college across town!

I met them at Greek Flame in Dr. Phillips, which just so happens to be across the street from my other old barre studio. Both of them had just completed a boot camp and were craving seafood and vegetables. Sounds like an opportunity to enjoy a variety and split to me!

We started with an appetizer, but being so full from lunch I wanted to wait for the main course. We ordered a special of Shrimp & Scallop Kababobs with grilled vegetables and a Large Village Salad with plum tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, red onions, scallions, parsley, feta cheese and kalamata olives topped with grilled chicken, olive oil, red wine vinaigrette and Greek herbs.

It came with a side of rice, but we barely touched it because everything was so delicious!

I left a happy (and stuffed) girl when our waitress brought us each two Cookies & Cream Dove chocolates.

*Not pictured: a large cup of coffee with breakfast, and a glass of red wine at dinner.

Moral of today’s eats? Order healthy, share big portions, and stop eating when you are full!

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Off to spend the afternoon with my sister and get ready for another dinner tonight.

Have a great Hump Day!