Eating Healthfully on Cruise Ships: Why It’s SO Hard!
It’s not uncommon to gain a few pounds while on a cruise. That’s because it’s so hard to make healthy choices while on this type of vacation. Cruise ships are notorious for great tasting foods, but eating too much of it, not eating a balanced diet, and drinking too much can cause people to gain weight.
Many Meals Are Served Buffet Style
One reason it is so difficult to eat healthy on a cruise is because buffets are so common. Cruise ships can feed a lot of people with buffets, plus everyone can choose what they want to eat. The problem with buffets, however, is that people have a tendency to stuff themselves and not make healthy choices because there is so many yummy looking foods.
How to overcome this:
- Limit yourself to only one plate of food at a buffet.
- Try to have a variety of foods on your plate.
- Only eat one dessert or skip that course.
Too Many Unhealthy Options
There is a wide variety of cuisine options aboard a cruise ship and many of them aren’t the healthiest. Desserts are found in abundance and greasy, high-calorie foods are very popular. It’s really hard for a lot of people to eat healthfully on a cruise with so many unhealthy options that cause people to gain weight.
How to overcome this:
- Try to get a few servings of fruits and vegetables in each day.
- Drink a lot of water because it fills up the stomach.
- Limit the amount of sugar and greasy foods that you eat at each meal.
People Like Cocktails and Mixed Drinks
Alcohol contains a lot of calories, but they are definitely a lot of fun to drink while on a cruise. Even the mixed drinks with a lot of fruit are not very healthy because of all the alcohol.
How to overcome this:
- Don’t drink at all.
- Limit the amount of cocktails and mixed drinks allowed each day.
- Switch off between water and cocktails.
People Eat Fast Because There Is So Much to Do
On a Caribbean cruise vacation, the fun seems to never stop. This means that people don’t always plan enough time for meals and end up rushing. This is definitely not a healthy way to eat and it isn’t very nice on the digestive system, either.
How to overcome this:
- Get to meal time early so there is no need to rush
- Remember the atmosphere of the cruise ship and take your time while eating.
- Bring snacks on excursions so there is no need to rush through meals.
It really is possible to eat healthfully on a cruise ship, but it definitely takes a bit of effort. Remember to make smart choices, avoid high-calorie food, and maintain an eating schedule to avoid gaining unwanted pounds on a cruise.