HEALTHY EATING: You can stay on diet on vacation

BY CAROLYN O’NEIL

Remember when vacations were for eating all you want, drinking way too much, staying up really late and sleeping in a lounge chair all day pretending to read a book?

Well, it turns out that many people today are using their leisure time to do just the opposite. With hectic work schedules and day-to-day chores that rob personal time to attend to health goals, the vacation is emerging as an opportune time to take a deep breath and focus on fitness.

Danielle Berry of Business Travel Consultants in Atlanta, who spends her busy days planning clients’ fabulous getaways and important business trips, says even a cruise with its buffets galore and bars on every deck can become a health resort if you know how to navigate the offerings.

“I used my recent cruise to South America on Seabourn as a ‘spa’ trip,” Berry said. “I had picked up a few pounds and was determined not only not to gain weight but to actually lose some.”

In fact, she successfully lost 5 pounds through a combination of exercise using the shipboard gym and good, old-fashioned calorie counting by watching portion sizes. Berry said, “None of this marred my enjoyment.” She sipped a glass of wine most evenings and chose the low-salt, low-fat menu selections.

“There are wonderful fresh fruits, granolas, cottage cheese, baked-on-board multigrain breads or eggs any way you like them in the morning and a fabulous make-your-own salad buffet at lunch.”

Did Berry dampen the mood in the dining room where many of the other passengers were indulging in rich sauces, cheese trays and decadent desserts? No, she didn’t, because she alerted the staff ahead of time that she wanted the lighter choices.

“It’s so seamless that none of your tablemates even notice, and it doesn’t disrupt the flow of flawless service,” she said.

Because of increased passenger demand, most cruise lines provide healthier menu options. Cunard’s Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 offer elegant options prepared by Canyon Ranch Spa chefs.

Of course, you don’t need to be on a luxury cruise to eat healthier foods on vacation.

● Road trip: Driving all day can cut your needs by as much as 500 calories. So, if it’s a long trip by car, schedule several breaks to get out, stretch and walk around. It will help you stay alert and energetic, too.

● Pack lighter: Whether you’re flying or driving, bring your own stash of healthful snacks such as small apples, grapes, nuts, whole-grain crackers, reduced-fat cheese sticks, carrot sticks and easy-to-peel citrus such as clementines.

●  Drink up: Air travel and breathing recirculated air in the car can be dehydrating. Limit diet soft drinks and reach for more water. From the drink cart in flight, request half orange juice and half sparkling water. You’ll get the healthful disease-fighting nutrients from the juice with half the calories.

●  When in Rome: Part of the adventure of travel is trying new foods and regional culinary specialties. Some even represent little lessons in eating healthier. Italians savor a single slice of pizza and enjoy a small cup of gelato.

So whether it’s a family car trip, a beach getaway or flying off to foreign lands — living a healthful lifestyle on vacation can’t prevent overweight luggage issues, but it can help you avoid the unwanted souvenir of extra pounds.

Carolyn O’Neil is a registered dietitian and co-author of “The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!” E-mail her at carolyn@carolyn
oneil.com.