Prepare for an Indulgent Vacation
I’m in France right now for Yahoo Beauty’s big launch and I am so ready to enjoy everything the French do so well: champagne, chocolate, cheese, bread, and dessert. The problem is, it’s a totally different way of eating for me. I usually try to stick to an 85% healthy rule because I feel—and look—so much better when I’m eating smart. However, I don’t want to be missing out in the food capital of the world. So I checked in with nutritionist Dr. Charles Passler, for his advice on prepping for a trip where everything’s indulgent.
Exercise every morning. “Even if it’s just a brisk walk in the morning, it will stimulate your metabolism,” Dr. Passler says.
Have a plan. “You want to enjoy the local fare within realistic limits,” Dr. Passler says. For example, if you want to have dessert every night, do it, but try to have just those three meals without snacking.”
Share. If you want to eat foods that are heavy in carbs or sample wonderful desserts, do so, just share. “You are traveling for the experience, and part of that experience is to taste things; sharing lets you do that,” Dr. Passler says.
Let cheese be the main course—not an add on. Cheese is calorie dense and bread is a carb, so they’re catalysts for weight gain. “If you want to enjoy them, just make them your meal, a nice option for lunch,” says Dr. Passler. “Add a vegetable to balance it out.”
Fill up first. “Whenever possible always start the meal with a salad,” says Dr. Passler. “It will help with digestion and is a good complement to richer dishes.”
Order water before wine. “Quench your thirst with water first. Then order wine with your entrée. You’ll feel better.”
Eat a healthy breakfast. “You’re setting yourself up for the rest of the day if you eat a solid breakfast with protein like eggs, yogurt, or cottage cheese, even fish and fruits and vegetables if you can,” says Dr. Passler. “You’re less likely to be hungry and your energy will be up too.”
Have protein at every meal. Dr. Passler sings the praises of protein: “It will moderate the intake of high fat French foods.”
If you want to indulge do. If you’re healthy most of the time, then you can enjoy yourself on vacation. Understand that you might come in 2 or 3 pounds heavier and that’s ok. If you have a plan to keep your body moving protein at every meal, you are going to be fine and it won’t be hard to take off when you get back to your regular routine.”
You might be able to eat more. “This isn’t based on any sort of science but for many of my clients, they are amazed at how much more they feel they can eat and not gain weight when they are in Europe. Maybe it’s that there are less pesticides and GMOS, and generally less processed food. But that is something I hear often.“
