Vacation Eating and Everyday Eating

We’re back from vacation in Las Vegas and we had an amazing time!  If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it. It has something for everyone; each time we visit, we find something different to do. And don’t even get me started on the food.

Actually, let’s talk about the food. Vegas is known for great food with billboards everywhere for all-you-can-eat buffets or touting “The best (insert food) in Vegas!” Back in the day, vacation eating was basically what my vacations were about. 

Regardless of dieting or not, I always restricted. When I wasn’t dieting, there were vacation-worthy-only foods which meant free-for-all; eating until I was physically uncomfortable. When I was dieting, there were entire food groups that weren’t “allowed”, so vacation meant “treating” myself. Because I cut out so many foods, when I ate them, my body reacted negatively because it wasn’t used to it. I ate without listening to how I was feeling. I ate because it was vacation. The weight of guilt when I got home was terrible. I vowed to start yet another diet or get back on track. How many times have we said this?

This trip to Vegas was different, though. I’ve been practicing intuitive eating for over a year now. I’ve learned to better listen to what my hunger cues tell me. What did that look like last week? First, it was amazing to enjoy vacation without stress. I ate when I was hungry and didn’t eat when I wasn’t. If I felt like having a salad, I did. One day, I wasn’t hungry all day and at dinner I left more than half of my meal on the plate. (Ok, yes, I did feel guilt for paying for an expensive meal I didn’t eat! ;))

Vacation eating doesn’t have to look all that different from every day eating. Of course you should try different things on vacation! And you might eat until you’re uncomfortable just because something tastes so good. But when you see food as just food, there’s no free-for-all mentality. It’s so much more enjoyable.

I didn’t have to leave room in my suitcase for all of the guilt and shame I used to carry home with me. I did peruse lots of menus though! I’m still a foodie!  And I took away inspiration for recipes I’ll be making to share with you – so stay tuned!