Cruise Food Help!

Hey there!

I'm going on a cruise tomorrow, and I will not be really in much contact with a computer for a whole week, so I was wondering if anyone could help me... I was thinking of just printing out a list of Good-for-you common foods that I can easily get a hold of at the Buffet or anywhere else on the ship. Is there a pre-composed list? What kinds of foods are common on a cruise ship? It is a Disney Cruise and I'm going to Ste. Marteen, Ste. Thomas and Some island owned by Disney.

So what I was thinking was mainly Low Cal foods that I can munch on, or high filling foods as well.

If you know any off the top of your head, feel free to post it up, and I'll copy it into a word document!

Thank you so much to anyone who helps me out! I'm sure this list might help a few others out as well

:)

Thanks!

-Raz

If you have a cell phone, c-c has a mobile link that you can use.

Stay away from creamy sauces.
Ask your server how the food is prepared.
Never been on a cruise, but everyone that I know that has has gained about five pounds on them.
Enjoy the experience, eat at maintaince and get back on the wagon when you get home.

Enjoy yourself.  I am jealous!

Hey thanks!

 I didnt know they had it on the mobile as well! Thats great!

Yeah, Creamy sauces... Thats a good one.

Cruises can be difficult, but the good news is that even the nicer cruises don't really have the most fantastic foods.  There will always be:

Breakfast - Cereal, toast, cottage cheese, fruit, yogurt (these are all fine, just watch your portion sizes!)  Stay away from the big tubs of scrambled eggs, you have no idea how much milk and cheese they added or how much oil they cooked it in!

Lunches - In my experience, this is the most difficult meal.  Burgers, fries, tons of junk.  Try to locate a salad bar and maybe some grilled meat, or a sandwich (w/o mayo).  Stay away from cream based soups!

Dinner - Go for meat of fish that has been grilled, baked, or broiled and steamed veggies or a salad.  Try to stay away from carb heavy sides at dinner.  Also, stay away from the dessert buffets and have fruit instead.

Also, most cruise ships have a small gym on board.  You have to get there early to get on a machine, but if you're like me and would rather just lay in the sun all day, hitting the gym beforehand can really save your diet.  Good Luck and have a safe trip!

 

Avoid sugar, fat, and alcohol, and aside from that relax and enjoy yourself... there's no point on spending your vacation stressing out over your diet. Instead of taking a list of good foods, it would be easier to take a 'short list' of foods to avoid.

Remember - salads are great, salad dressing needs to be used with caution (always put it on the side and dip your fork in...) vegetables in general are great as long as they're not doused in cream or slick with oil. But even the oiliest, creamiest, cheesiest vegetable dish is better for you than a slab of creamcake.

Protein should be lean - chicken without skin, trim the fat off your steak/pork chops, poach rather than fry your eggs etc.

Bread has roughly 70 calories an ounce... so the lighter it is the less bad for you it will be. 

Fruit juice has roughly 100-120 calories a cup (that's EIGHT ounces, not a full-sized glass...) Soda/Lemonade has a bunch more, unless you drink diet stuff of course.  

And since oil has 120 calories a tablespoon, anything deep-fried is to be AVOIDED at all costs. One little MINI-eggroll has at least 200 calories, as I learned to my shock when I thought they were relatively 'healthy' for fried food. NOT!  

I just got off a norweijan cruise 8 days to the carribean.  I gained a few pounds but have lost it already.  On my cruise they had a "Light Choice" Menu.  eat in the dinig room only. This way all of your meals are portioned out right unlike the all you can eat buffet, and hamburger /pizza bar.  If you eat the buffet eat the sandwhiches and salad.  Don't drink sodas.  Also utilize the gym.  I know it sounds crazy excercising on your cruise, but there is always a day at sea free time.  Good luck.

Kajikit -  Thats funny about the spring rolls, becauase I totally thought that about onion rings...I didnt think they absorbed much oil, meaning more healthy for you!

ugh, but they so yummie...

Ok, so So far I got:

- Watch your portions on the Buffet
- Avoid the fried breakfast stuff. Stick with Oatmeal & Fruits
- Toast is a-o-k, but again, in small portions
- The Dinning halls are good, due to portion controls
- Lighter foods on the menu may be available
- Creamy anything = High calories. Means soups & sauces
- Sammages are good, but be sure to use Mustard, not mayo
- Fish is awesome as well!
- Skip the juice and go straight for the fresh version
- Diet soda's are the better bet over regular pop
- Dressing on the side!
- Share a dissert if any thing
- Avoid high-sugar booze-y drinks
- Dont feel weird for working out (does walking for hours count? :D)

Awesome! Thanks everyone!!

:)

one new hint I learned here.  Have a salad before going to a restuarant, so you don't go wild when ordering.  Could you incorporate that into your cruise meals?  Eat a salad, slowing, drink lots of water, then go for the entree?

also you'll have opportunity to exercise on cruise, to burn off calories.

have fun.........yes, I'm jealous also  :)

The Carnival Cruise I went on had both carb friendly and calorie friendly options on the dinner menu's.  Breakfast and lunch were pretty much either the buffets or the sit down variety - i would recommend the sit down variety - you can specify pretty good what you want from the menu and have it prepared to your liking.  As for lunch, there were places to get deli sandwiches made to order and a sushi bar so that was pretty safe for me.

By the way, I didn't follow these guidelines for the entire trip.  I did take advantage of the gym and was pretty active in port.  Weight gained: 0 pounds.  I even doubled up on meals some nights (although I never did the midnight dessert buffet!) - they had lobster tails one night - I order two! :-0

Angelic

I was on a Disney Cruise last spring and LOVED it!  hope you do as well --

 

1 -- don't be afraid to let yourself have a few treats :)

 

2 -- here is a site with the menus for the cruise -- www.castawayclub.com   Enjoy!  as you can see, there are lighter choices and grilled options available at every meal -- also fresh fruit is available most of the day at Goofy's Galley up near the pools.  

3 -- at the regular dinner, and at the buffets, don't be afraid to ask how things are prepared or what the info is on anything -- the servers will be happy to find out for you...and are happy to help you find something you like.  my 17 yo nephew who is pretty picky asked for cottage cheese instead of anything on the appetizer course, not only did our server find it for him ,  but every night thereafter, there was a cup of cottage cheese for him....

4 - portions on cruises are generally "normal" sized -- not the "typical" huge resturaunt portions

 5 -- enjoy the beautiful weather and be outside whether in the pool, walking/jogging the outside "track" around the ship, or on one of my favorite destinations in the world-- Castaway Cay

 

let me know if you have any other specific questions - and have a great trip! 

Hubby & I are going on our 3rd cruise next month & I will be sure to save all these comments for use then. We are going with the Carolina Panthers to Cozemel and Belize. I cant wait!!

Thanks so much for this thread. I'll be going on a cruise later this month and these tips will be with me!

Last time I went on one, I wasn't watching my weight, and I'm sure I put on some lbs. from the pina coladas alone (which I'll have to resist this time)!

Bon Voyage!