With several dining venues, countless meals, all-you-can-eat buffets, and pizzerias, grills, and pastries available on demand, cruises are filled with temptations. And repositioning cruises are the worst, because during all those days at sea, there’s not much to do but eat.
But most cruise ships have fitness centers, jogging tracks, and other sports facilities, so it’s possible to keep up your exercise routine while you’re at sea. And with a little restraint, and these helpful tips, you should be able to keep any extra pounds at bay.
For breakfast, the buffet is often a better bet than the dining room. There’s usually plenty of fresh fruit, cereal, whole grain breads, yogurt, and leans meats like ham or smoked salmon. These days, most of the omelet stations have yolk-free egg product. An omelet or scrambled eggs made with the mixture is a good low-fat, low-cal source of protein.
Stay away from the pastries, sausages, and bacon. Opt for a broiled tomato instead.
At lunch, most of the buffets will have all sorts of ingredients you can use to make a main-course salad. If you want something a little heartier, the pool-side grill will probably offer grilled chicken breasts, turkey burgers, or even garden burgers.
For dessert, go back to the buffet for more fresh fruit, or find the frozen yogurt dispenser that most ships have.
Virtually all cruise lines now have vegetarian and healthy selections or spa cuisine sections on the menu in the main dining room. These are usually delicious, and if you order them, you probably won’t feel deprived at all. And you can always order a piece of grilled, fresh fish with steamed vegetables.
You won’t enjoy yourself if you don‘t indulge yourself a little, so pick and choose your battles. If sweets are your weakness, order one of the wonderful soufflés and have just a few bites. We have a friend who salts her food when she’s reached her limit. It’s easy to resist when it’s inedible.
Be sure to watch your liquid calories too. The cocktail of the day may sound appealing, but it could have more calories than you think. In fact, a 10-ounce margarita has 740 calories. So if you want to enjoy an adult beverage, stick to white wine or vodka and soda.
Follow these tips and you should maintain your figure even on a transatlantic cruise.