Quick tips for eating healthy at the buffet on a cruise

Trying to eat healthy on a cruise buffet?  Is it possible?  Definitely!  You just need some willpower and to stick to a few rules and you’ll be able to enjoy trying new foods while keeping off the extra pounds.  I know it can be tough when you are surrounded by temptations.  Below are some of my tips that I follow when I’m eating at a buffet while on a cruise.

Make a plan and stick to it

If you want to eat healthy at the buffet, decide what you’re going to have ahead of time and stick to it.  However, have you ever decided that you want to eat healthy but by the time you walk around the buffet, your mind has completely changed?  I always start by “scouting” out the food before I’m ready to eat lunch or dinner while sailing.  It gives me time to process the information and make the right choices when I’m ready to eat. 

Go before you’re starving

Don't go into the buffet starving.  If you’re hungry and it’s not time for lunch or dinner yet, have a small snack like a piece of fruit before it’s time to head over to the buffet. It will help avoid taking too much food and overeating. 

Start with Small Portions

As I wrote in an earlier blog, one of my favorite parts of cruising is trying all the new foods.  If there are a lot of things that you want to try on the buffet, take sample sizes and if you find something that you like, then, go back for more.

Keep it healthy

Having a salad or a sandwich for lunch and think you’re eating healthy?  When at the buffet, be careful not to fall into what I call the “salad dressing trap”.  If you’re truly looking to have a healthy sandwich, stay away from the different mayo’s and oils. Stick with mustard as a spread.  For salads, be careful of which salad dressing you pick.  Take a moment to look at your salad to make sure you’re adding veggies to the salad and not toppings (croutons, fried wontons, peanuts, etc.)

Cooked to order? Speak Up!
Many cruise ships have "cook to order" stations where you can get food such as stir fry, omelets, and pasta made with the ingredients you pick.  I love these stations as it gives me the opportunity to know exactly what’s going into my dish.   Since most of these start with a little fry pan with oil in it, I always ask for less oil which saves me some calories. 

Just ask! 

Beware of hidden cream, butter, and salts in prepared dishes.  Don’t be afraid to ask what’s in it as you may be thinking you’re eating healthy by grabbing the Summer Succotash dish but it could be drenched in butter.  This happened to me recently as I went to grab a bowl of gazpacho but asked if there was any cream in it.  It turned out there was and the waiter pointed out a healthier option for me to get.  I was glad I asked as I would have had a whole bowl of it thinking that I was having a healthy lunch.  

Stay away from Sauce

On the buffet, stay far away from items drenched in sauce, it adds extra calories, fat, and sodium.  Look for grilled, steamed or poached items. 

Ice cream vs. Frozen Yogurt
Check out what’s offered on the ship as there might be an option to get frozen yogurt or sorbet, both are better options than ice cream.  If you’re still craving ice cream, ask for a kid’s size and stay away from the toppings.  Want it in a cone? Don’t feel bad having it in a cone, only adds about 30 extra calories.

Take a taste

If that chocolate mousse is staring you down, try it but just eat half and share the rest! 

Move it

Finished eating? Move the plate away from you.  With the plate out of your reach, you won’t fall into the trap of unconsciously eating the rest of your plate because it’s in front of you. When you’re done, remove the temptations. This works really well for desserts if you were just planning to “taste it”.

My favorite lunch on a cruise ship is a grilled chicken sandwich with a big salad on the side that I made myself with frozen yogurt for dessert. 

FreshCruiser Tip:  Try eating a healthy lunch and then allow yourself to splurge a little at dinner!