You’re thrilled you’re going on a cruise, but not so happy with the fact you’re probably going to gain weight so here’s 8 tips to help you out…
Likened to the Heathrow injection – it’s a well-known dirty industry fact that a regular punter will gain about 1kg a day whilst on the high seas.
There’s temptation that food 24/7 on offer will result in some cruisers to eat (and eat, and eat) and can easily find ways to consume 6,000+ calories in one sea day, put their bodies into diabetic shock with excessive sugar intake, and result in bloated bellies with salt levels that rival the Dead Sea, but it’s still possible – and even perhaps enjoyable – to find healthy fare onboard.
While choosing to avoid the buffet is a rather strict option, there is a middle ground by simply using a few simple strategies to bring your calorie consumption down and help yourself make smarter decisions regarding what to put on your plate.
Here’s 8 tips to help you out, but the general advice boils down to this: think more about what you’re ordering (or selecting from the buffet), and take time to enjoy every single bite. You can find greater satisfaction by eating less – and we will never say you absolutely cannot have the chocolate cake, but you will be doing yourself a favour by sharing half of it!
Choose your dining venue wisely
Photo Credit: Savanna Boats
If the all-you-can-eat nature of a buffet frazzles you into making bad choices and overeating, stick with the main dining room for meals. If long dinners and set courses overwhelm you, and you do better with the flexibility of the buffet, skip the formal dining.
Some may find that avoiding the buffet at all costs because they’re too tempted to sneak that extra dessert (or three) or splurge on cheeseburgers could be their only hope to keep consumption down.
Don’t be bullied into ordering every course
Most of us don’t live at Downton Abbey, enjoying regular four-course meals. If you don’t want to sample every course in the main dining room, or if nothing takes your fancy, don’t let the waiter’s pressure you into ordering more dishes than you care to eat.
Truth is, they will still be nice and serve you, even if you politely decline the baked Brie entrée or triple-chocolate dessert.
Ask for half-portions
Most cruise lines that visit Australia are used to American diners and everybody knows, American portions are almost double that of what we’re used to down-under. Whilst everyone enjoys ordering three main courses and two desserts on the first day at sea, there’s no way you should keep that up for the rest of the cruise. Did you know you can ask for half-portions or entrée sized mains and desserts?
So if you want to try it all, choose a smaller portion and leave the rest behind or share with your partner.
Pace yourself at the buffet
Pizza! Indian food! Grilled meat! Cake! It’s tempting to pile your plate to resemble the leaning tower of Pisa but the fact is, you probably don’t need the food coma that usually follows.
Do a lap of the entire buffet and then choose what you’re going for on one plate – if you’re still hungry, you can go back for seconds. Sitting with your back facing the buffet or better yet, quite a distance from the food will help you avoid the tantalising waft of freshly baked bread and chocolate waffles.
Eat off the spa menu
Queen Mary 2’s Canyon Ranch spa cuisine is a sensible option
Most cruise lines denote dishes that are “healthier” – typically fewer calories than the other mains and with a simpler, less sauce-heavy preparation.
These include Queen Mary 2’s Canyon Ranch spa cuisine, Royal Caribbean’s “Vitality” selections in its main dining rooms and Carnival’s “Spa Carnival Cuisine.” Alternately, look for spa restaurants like the spa cafe in Celebrity’s Solariums. Just remember, “spa cuisine” doesn’t necessarily mean uber-healthy, so it’s not an invitation to pig out.
Limit your dining to actual meals
Say no to pastries and mini-meals
Mid-morning pastries at the onboard cafe, ice cream at 2pm, afternoon tea at 4p,, a late-night pizza – all these mini-meals conspire against your jeans still fitting on disembarkation day. “Let me grab some carrot sticks,” said no one at the midnight buffet, ever.
Limit – or eliminate – between-meal snacking, and you’re well on your way to coming home the same weight you were on day one of your cruise.
Skip the late-night dining
Don’t fall for the midnight snack
Midnight buffets have gone out of style, but every cruise ship has a late-night or 24-hour food option, even if it’s just room service.
Nothing good ever comes out of eating a cheeseburger and fries at 1am, so if you want to stick to healthy dining, just say no to after-dinner meals. Early morning breakfast will come soon enough.
When in doubt, work it out!
Sometimes the temptations of a cruise are just too much for your willpower. If you’ve gone rogue on your diet or chucked your healthy-eating plan overboard, never fear.
Hit the onboard fitness center (usually it comes with pretty ocean views), the promenade deck and the stairs to sweat off those extra calories, or be sure to get active in port. While you can’t turn back the clock on bad snacking choices, you can work to keep your body strong and your clothing loose. Tomorrow is another day for making smart cruise dining decisions.
Some of these tips were sourced from CruiseCritic.
