How to avoid overeating while on vacation — without feeling deprived

by Brittany Anas · May 1, 2014

(Take a tour of an olive farm and learn about olive oil in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Pictured is a sampling of bruschettas from the Queen Creek Olive Farm in Arizona).

By Brittany Anas

Ever come home from vacation, unpack your bags and realize you need to unpack a few extra pounds, too? (We’re with ya’).

The fact is, when we’re on vacation, we are just more likely to indulge — whether it’s the creamy, poolside pina coladas (the umbrellas are so cute!) or the eating larger-than-normal portions at restaurants, it’s certainly easy to overeat while on vacation.

Here’s a few of our favorite tips for staying within our caloric budget while on vacation, without ever feeling like we’re skimping. Bonus: Some of these tips will save you money, too!

Check out the hotel’s amenities. Of course a gym is ideal and that comes standard with most hotels these days. Before booking, though, make sure your hotel has a mini-fridge. That way, you can take a quick trip to the grocery store at the beginning of your vacation and stock up the fridge with healthy snacks and light meals. Some low-fat yogurt cups topped with banana slices > a stack of pancakes dripping with syrup every morning. We also like high-fiber fruits and veggies, like apples and mini carrots) to nosh on while we’re poolside. (Save big when you book your hotels, flights and rental cars through Expedia — and then earn an extra 7 percent Cash Back from ShopAtHome.com).
Take advantage of happy hours. You’re on vacation. The whole day belongs to you. So, beat the dinner crowds and get in on some happy hour deals. You’ll find smaller plates (hello, portion control!) and can easily make a meal out of a couple tapas and sides while sampling the menu. Another tip? Consider eating family style, sharing different plates.
Carry a water bottle. Don’t let de-hydration ruin your va-cation. (See what we did there with that rhyme?) Getting your daily 6 to 8 glasses of water in will help you feel full throughout the day, too. Sometimes, we mistake thirst for hunger.
Love food? Learn about it, too. One of our favorite parts of vacation is indulging in new foods — whether we’re traveling abroad or here in the United States, every region has different flavors to offer. If you’re a foodie, take some time to learn about the region’s food through a cooking class or tour. You’ll take the focus off. A few of our fave dining locations include: Queen Creek Olive Mill that includes olive oil 101 presentations and tours of the olive farm (located in the greater Phoenix, Ariz. area) and Savor the Flavor walking tours in Denver and Aspen, Colorado. Looking for dessert? Check out a cocoa farm in Hawaii.