When one thinks of going on a cruise, the #1 topic that always comes up is about all of the great food options that you have on a cruise. In the past, there was the main dining room with a fixed menu, a buffet for breakfast, lunch or dinner usually at the back of the ship, 24 hour room service and a midnight buffet. But, for diabetics cruises can present unique challenges that we will discuss in this article.
When one thinks of going on a cruise, the #1 topic that always comes up is about all of the great food options that you have on a cruise. In the past, there was the main dining room with a fixed menu, a buffet for breakfast, lunch or dinner usually at the back of the ship, 24 hour room service and a midnight buffet.
Now, there are even more dining options available. Sure they still have the main dining room seating (usually early, late or anytime seating), the infamous and often low quality buffet and the 24 hr. room service but now, most cruise ships have multiple themed restaurants you can chose from for an additional cost along with various other foods like pizza, coffee & desserts & sandwich kiosks to satisfy most anyone culinary desires anytime during the day.
Having so many options can be a good thing however it can also play havoc on your blood sugar levels. Being around so much food all of the time and being able to pretty much eat as much as you want is sure tempting but not really the best option especially for many days in a row.
Here are a few tips that I use when going on a cruise that help keep my blood sugar levels pretty normal and still enjoy the food options.
Tip #1. Try to eat in the large dining room rather than the buffet. There are usually some great choices on the menu and you can even ask to remove or modify any of the dishes if you want to like no carbs, extra veggies and event double portions of proteins depending on your appetite and the item being served.
Tip #2. When dining in the large dining rooms, don't be afraid of telling your server about any dietary needs you may need like low sodium items, less carbs on the plate etc. The servers are more than happy to accommodate your needs, just ask them.
Tip #3. I you wish to dine at the buffet, start with the salad bar and load up on the fresh veggies first. Having a nice salad will fill you up faster and is good for you. Ask for a low calorie salad dressing, and if they do not have one, bring your favorite dressing with you. I like to bring a bottle of Walden Farms Salad Dressing with me since it has no carbs, sugar, calories, fat, is gluten free and they taste so good (my favorites are the Raspberry Vinaigrette, Honey Balsamic and the Asian salad dressings.
Tip #4. When choosing what to eat on a buffet, go for the proteins offered at the carving station like turkey, beef, lamb first before looking at the other buffet items that are often lesser quality items that and are full of sauces, fried, and are full of carbs and usually quite boring and bland.
Tip #5. Try to keep on a routine and eat your meals at the same time each day if possible. It's ok to change eating locations but do it at the same time that you would at home. If you take medications, follow the same routine.
Tip #6. Have fun food grazing. Why not have a nice salad at the buffet, some sliced roast beef or turkey and then enjoy a slice of pizza, and end the grazing with a nice low carb and low sugar dessert in the dining room. My favorite dessert is a small plate of assorted cheese and some dried or fresh fruit and even some nuts. By changing up the dining locations, you are less opt to get bored and not feel cheated.
Tip #7. And lastly, bring some low carb bars & snacks with you on the cruise. There are times that you don't feel like eating too much at a meal and the low carb bars and snacks are the perfect item to have just about any time during the day including on any shore excursions.
On a recent cruise, I found the food to be so bad, I lived on mostly the bars and snacks I took along with me and was sure glad I did. Eating lots of bland carb & fat laden foods just because it is there free of charge is no reason to indulge.
Believe me, you will feel much better about yourself and the cruise if you don't stuff your face with food just because it is available and free. Quality is much more important than quantity.
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