Eating on holiday

[Flakie]

Hi all. We’re thinking of an all inclusive holiday next year, maybe Turkey. No experience of such a holiday at all so wondering if any of you have done one and what options there would be for food that would suit me and not cause any problems. I’ve found that having cut out a lot of stuff over the past six months has helped my system (if you get my drift) and if I do indulge I tend to have tummy problems. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Maz2]

Hi Flakie. I am pre-diabetic (did get out of it but it has gone up again so back to testing and trying to find out what went wrong again). For me personally when I go on holiday (no experience of Turkey so not sure what they eat) I tend to stick to things like fish, red meat within reason, chicken, salads, and veg, omelettes. I avoid all the sugary breakfasts and, as sausage does not like me, I don't have that either although most people here can tolerate it. I try to avoid as much as possible pasta, rice, potatoes, bread. I also have occasional treats but not too many.

I think I may have been the only person to have lost weight on a cruise!!!!

However, some people I am sure just don't worry too much about it and think they are on holiday so they will just let it go a bit. I personally prefer not to do that but then, at 64, I expect to have to restrict myself as I cannot expect my body to "play ball" the way it did in my youth.

 

[trophywench]

Only stayed in one partially AI hotel, years ago in Majorca. Not much in the way of salad or veg generally at dinner time (we were half board) or plain meats (all seemed to be casseroles in some sort of sauce, pies or lasagne/moussaka type offerings) not a single 'Diet' soft drink on offer, all really cheap brands of spirits and beer, even for cash.

Dire for a T2 and a bit c**p for a T1 not hardly restricting carbs at mealtimes!

 

[bamba]

Outside the UK - sausages generally have more meat.

 

[Flakie]

Oh dear! Sounds a bit awkward so far! As Maz said as you get older the body doesn’t play ball all the time either. May have to rethink the destination and/or the accommodation.

 

[Robin]

Oh dear! Sounds a bit awkward so far! As Maz said as you get older the body doesn’t play ball all the time either. May have to rethink the destination and/or the accommodation.

The only sort of all inclusive type holidays we've done are river and ocean cruises, and I've not found food a problem at all. There's always an egg station at breakfast, doing omelettes,or fried eggs etc, and cold meats, cheeses etc, and fish ( smoked salmon if you're lucky, I feasted on smoked salmon and cottage cheese for a week on one cruise). There were croissants, but they did mini ones, and there was always rye or pumpernickel bread.
Lunch always had a huge salad bar, and then a self service hot food section, where you could just avoid the carbs if you wanted, or just avoid altogether or mix and match a piece of fish or meat with the salad bar.
Evening meal was a served dinner, but always low carb starter, lowish carb main course, (almost zero carb if you chose to leave the potato) and desserts that came in small portions, and some with sugar free jelly etc ( though sometimes the ones labelled 'diabetic' were carbier than the ones that weren't).
We always do a lot of walking on hol, and I'm renowned for being the only person ever to lose weight on a cruise!

 

[Mark Parrott]

When I went all-inclusive in Mexico, there wasn't much in the range of Mexican food on offer, mainly some kinds of meat is some kind of sauce & chips with everything, though there was a large salad bar, so may not be much in the way of Turkish food, but if there is, there may be kebabs (without bread) and, of course, salads. Otherwise just avoid the usual potatoes, rice & pasta. If it's a buffet this isn't too bad as you can pick & choose. But you are on holiday, so you can let yourself go a bit. Exercise & hot weather will help your BG.

 

[Stitch147]

I go to an AI place usually twice a year in Lanzarote and never have a problem food wise. Always lots of fresh salads to choose from, fresh fish and meat each day. Breakfast I tend to go for the cooked to order omelette or just have eggs and bacon. The best year I had there before I was diagnosed I was following weight watchers and managed to loose 8 1/2 lbs in weight!

 

[Maz2]

Agree with Robin who mentioned cruises. There is so much choice and you can change the meals around if you want. I generally do anyway if I go out I just ask for no potatoes and extra veg if they will be do it for me. Most will at no extra cost.

I suppose you may have to go to more expensive hotels as I suspect the more you pay the more choice you will get and the more accommodating they will be although that may not be true universally.