Zoe Stirling is a nutritional therapist who recently opened South Kensington’s healthy food hangout, Squirrel. Here she shows how you can have a fantastic holiday, without consuming a fantastic number of calories....
1. Sharing is caring
When it comes to eating out on holiday, the mantra ‘sharing is caring’ couldn’t be more apt. Try ordering a selection of dishes when eating as a group at meal times, some may be more healthy than others (and that’s OK – you’re on holiday after all!), but make sure you’re the one who orders that healthy items.
This will mean you’re unlikely to over-eat the unhealthy stuff (as it needs to be divvied out). Most people also find that sharing meals doesn’t mean you always have to finish every morsel of food on your plate, and you get to try new foods that you may not have otherwise chosen on a menu.
2. Opt for lean meats
Leaner proteins such as chicken or fish tend to be a better option on the whole when eating out on holiday. Ask how they’re cooked – baked or grilled are ideal. If you’re holidaying in the Mediterranean then fresh grilled fish is almost always on the menu. Drizzle over a little olive oil and fresh lemon juice and you’re good to go!
3. Implement a chip swap
If a holiday meal feels somewhat incomplete without a serving of carbs, switch up your go-to portion of chips for a cleaner alternative. Rather than chips, opt for a jacket potato as this is baked rather than deep fried and you’ll still get your carb hit.
Ask for butter (or olive oil) on the side so you can add that on yourself. Always make sure you have a vegetable option on your plate too, and order a side salad to help you fill up on the good stuff (with dressing on the side too).
4. Don't drink all your calories
Sundowners and rosé-fuelled lunches... sound familiar? Well, the booze has got to be one of the biggest diet de-railers out there. So, what can you do to keep the waistline in check? Try a gin or vodka with soda and lots of fresh lime as it tends to be a low calorie favourite, or, dilute white wine or rose down with sparkling water to make a spritzer.
It’s best to avoid sugary fruit juice cocktails (yes mocktails too) as they’ll inevitably include lots of sugar. Beer causes bloating as it contains yeast, so for anyone with any digestive issues, it's an absolute no.
5. Speak up
Regardless of what’s on the menu, the biggest obstacle standing in the way of our healthy eating plans is ourselves. The Brits are terrible at speaking up and asking for items they actually want out of fear of making a scene or being labelled a ‘fussy eater’.
Don’t be afraid to speak up, to ask for that dressing on the side or to swap those chips that come with your meal for a jacket potato. The wait staff aren't going to know what you want unless you ask them. And When you get home not feeling like you have to embark on a gigantic detox, 'embarrassed' is the very last thing you'll feel.
Try Squirrel now on Harrington Road just down from South Kensington Tube Station.
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