Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Last month I went on a vacation to all inclusive resort in Mexico for a week. I worked out every day, ate healthy, soaked up lots of sun and came home skinny and happy. Not only didn’t I gain any weight, I also got a flatter stomach. How? By eating healthy foods and treats in moderation, by working out on a regular basis.

I just want to share with you what worked for me and show what you can eat on a vacation without coming home and bringing extra pounds with you. It’s totally possible and not so hard to do!

As a rule of thumb, I stuck to protein with veggies and complex carbs with an occasional treat like a glass or two of wine at night and some foods. For dinner I tried to eat protein with veggies, no carbs. I also had 1 cheat day and drank lots of water.

When it comes to alcohol, you are better of drinking clear liquor or a bit of wine. No sugary margaritas. Each drink is around 500 calories. I also do not add sugar to coffee. Enjoy the read and cheers!

Airplane

Snack before boarding – Subway whole wheat muffin with egg whites and veggies + my water.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Snack mix I didn’t eat and do not recommend.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Instead I was snacking on raw and unsalted cashews I brought with me and coffee with skim milk.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Lunch – rice with chicken teriyaki. I left most of the sauce on a side. Also water, wine and some sweet bread I didn’t eat.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

 

Breakfast

Some days I would have a banana first thing in the morning before a run on the beach.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

My usual favourite breakfast.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Health juice from “dietary zone” – spinach with cactus.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

My favourite meal of the trip – cottage cheese, sour cream and papaya. To die for!

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Morning coffee was a must!

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Veggies, scrambled eggs, rye bread, light cheese, chicken, health juice, coffee, water and fruit.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Love bread with cheese.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Omelette, smoked salmon, rye bread, tomato, health juice and coffee.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Poached eggs, rye bread, veggies, cottage cheese with papaya and coffee.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

 

Lunch

Steak, steamed broccoli, pico de gallo, taco.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Fish, squid, beans and fruit for dessert.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Steak, enchilada, guacamole, pico de gallo, rye bread.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Veggies with meat and fruit for dessert.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Guacamole, salad, zucchini, beans, eggs, baby potato.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Some traditional Mexican soup.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Rice, salad, pico de gallo, steamed cauliflower, refried beans (?).

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Veggies, meat.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Guacamole, enchilada, veggies, beans.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

 

Dinner

Salad, grilled meat.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Chicken, veggies, taco.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Tacos…maybe?!

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Salad.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Salad.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Rice, grilled salmon, salad and steamed peas.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Prawns, prosciutto, cheese, dark chocolate – appies.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

 

Drinks

Carried cold water everywhere I went.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Every night I would have a camomille tea before going to bed.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Tea selection.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Coffee machine – I would always get Americano and then add skim milk.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Skinny iced coffee was my treat on some afternoons.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Liquor dispenser in my room which I haven’t used.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Bar fridge stocked full of water which I loved! No interest in beer or pop.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Skinny margarita – ice, tequila, triple sec, lime juice and club soda. Ask your server.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Chilled white wine on a hot day – priceless.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Club soda, water and red wine.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Chilled white wine with watermelon.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

 

Cheat Day

Some of my meals I had on a cheat day.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale
Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

 

Eat This

The name ‘Dieatary zone” was funny. I guess in a grand scheme of things most foods in the “Dietary zone” were healthy.

Health juice and other smoothies, cottage cheese, light yoghurt (no idea on ingredients), butter (?) and jams (?).

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Deli turkey meat, fresh mozzarella with tomatoes, tuna salad and deli chicken meat.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

The variety of eggs for breakfast was great!

Scrambled eggs plain/with salsa/bacon (?).

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Fried eggs.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Poached and boiled eggs.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Guacamole, pico de gallo, lettuce, hot chili peppers and something else.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

On their own some authentic Mexican ingredients were not that bad. Like the ground beef below.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

The appies for dinner: shrimp, devilled eggs, smoked salmon, prosciutto.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

A little bit of prosciutto with wine…mmm.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Cheese. Some cheeses were quite fresh and light.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

More cheese paired well with red wine.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Mussels and shrimp.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Boiled baby blue crabs.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Real crab meat salad.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Salad bar was my favourite part of the restaurant!

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Chicken and rice ( white but better than fries).

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Chicken skewers closeup.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

That was the healthiest bread I found at the restaurant. So I stuck to it as my choice for carbs.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Grilled shrimp dish.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Grilled beans, tomatoes and cactus. Not the eggplant or mozzarella sticks.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Fruit for dessert most nights.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

I finally found some dark chocolate.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

 

Don’t Eat This

Processed cold cuts…really processed.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Fried white corn tortilla chips.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Deep fried quesadillas with an extreme amount of cheese.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Deep fried tortillas with some healthier topping.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

White corn something.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Might look like a delicacy but in reality it’s an imitation black caviar.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Mayo and various processed dressings. The only healthy thing here is yellow mustard.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Creamy pasta salads.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

White bread.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Sushi – white rice with mayo and imitation crab meat.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Fries, chicken fingers, gravy, deep fried chicken.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

A bunch of junk food.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

White pasta = simple carbs = sugar.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Chocolate chip pancakes, crepes, white flour pancakes.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

French toast, waffles, deep fried something with sugar.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Deep fried goodies.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Pizza.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

White pasta drenching in heavy sauces.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale
Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Ice cream.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Some ice cream toppings might be healthy on their own.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Doughnuts.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Whipped cream.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

Chocolate who knows made of what.

Surviving All Inclusive Buffets Without Breaking the Scale

5 Secrets to Easy Healthy Dinners

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Comments

  1. Great job on making the right choices. Especially this year we been really conscious about what we put in our body, I love to use Fooducate app on the phone every time we shop to make better decisions.

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