Lunch Options That Don't Involve Fries

[SleepyV]

Diet coke in the US no longer has aspartame in I understand?

 

[dcassetta]

I can't speak for other countries, but Diet Coke in the United States is still made with aspartame. There is a Diet Coke available with Splenda, sucralose, but I don't think it's available on the ship

 

[SleepyV]

Thanks for your help dcassetta. I read somewhere (on a UK site) that Coke were going to remove aspartame from their products. But your answers have helped to inform my choice of soft drinks. Thanks once again to everyone for their suggestions for lunch.

 

[xlxo]

I anticipate gaining some weight on the trip but I want to maintain some reason. Any suggestions are appreciated.

The average cruiser gains 1 lb per cruise day. I got myself a fitbit on my last trip to ensure my body has 10,000 steps a day. You might want a higher number for weight loss. When I don't see 10k, I'm doing deck/hall laps w/ stairs.

Another option is to install Noomwalk on your smartphone. It's a free app that turns your phone into an activity tracker.

 

[mmouse37]

On the transatlantic cruise which was 2 weeks I think I only had fries once or twice. you can easily avoid fries/unhealthy choices. I agree with the walking of Deck 4 (love looking at the ocean views) and taking stairs as much as you can. I didn't gain nearly the amount I anticipated I might.

MJ

 

[TestingH2O]

The average cruiser gains 1 lb per cruise day. I got myself a fitbit on my last trip to ensure my body has 10,000 steps a day. You might want a higher number for weight loss. When I don't see 10k, I'm doing deck/hall laps w/ stairs.

Another option is to install Noomwalk on your smartphone. It's a free app that turns your phone into an activity tracker.

I am completely addicted to my Garmin. Luckily I work at a place that has made everyone's fitness an institutional priority, so we all have our plastic bands regardless of the formality of our schedules.

I'd say my average is 10-12k a day between work and outside exercise, so I hope I'll be able to keep that up. My personal goal was 18,000 on a staycation family day. That ended up feeling a little excessive the next morning.

 

[RHSTigerMom]

The food offered in the concierge lounge are small bites. There are some richer dessert offerings, but everything is pretty much bite-size. For instance, on our cruise in May, I would not eat the bread on the sandwiches and just eat the meat/cheese or lobster salad (yummy). You'll probably find that since you've been so good about watching what you eat, you won't really have a taste for the rich things and if you do, they may make you feel gross. Walking the track on Deck 4, taking the stairs, hitting the gym are all options. I've actually lost a few pounds on each cruise because of all the walking.

 

[CM Dad]

The average cruiser gains 1 lb per cruise day. I got myself a fitbit on my last trip to ensure my body has 10,000 steps a day. You might want a higher number for weight loss. When I don't see 10k, I'm doing deck/hall laps w/ stairs.

Another option is to install Noomwalk on your smartphone. It's a free app that turns your phone into an activity tracker.

plan

My wife isn't sure how she did it, but on our recent 11-night cruise, she lost a couple of pounds. I had planned on running on deck 4 during the cruise but somehow never got around to it. The one time I went out there to do it, half the deck was closed dues to winds.

 

[MunFam]

We went on the WBPC...like you, I had lost quite a bit of weight going in to the cruise. I ate what I wanted, but within reason. I gained 12 pounds in 14 days (with 3 days pre vacation)...

Within 48 hours of getting off the ship, I had lost about 5 pounds and the rest was gone in about 2 weeks. It was worth it. I think a lot of it was water retention from the sodium in the foods and also in the water. People say there is not sodium in the ship water, but I felt there was a salt after taste and I was always thirsty after driking it. Anyways...its only 4 days. Enjoy yourself and know that you can ALWAYS lose the weight again.

 

[lbgraves]

Don't let your servers make you feel that you have to finish everything on your plate. They tend to think that means you didn't like it. Simply tell them you eat small portions and that usually stops the coaxing.

 

[princess pooh]

I'd make myself a grilled chicken salad for lunch every day. I got a grilled chicken breast from one of the fast food places at the pool and added it to the salad I made from cabanas. It was perfect for me...filling without being too heavy. I also ordered the lighter meals from the MDRs for dinner a few times. I indulged in a few cookies and a lot of Mickey pretzels but it all balanced out in the end and I didn't gain any weight. I also took the stairs most of the time, jogged on deck 4, and went to the gym a few times.

 

[mevelandry]

I found it easier to get healthy meals on the cruiseship than WDW. The portions are smaller (it's a good thing). I did not gain any weight during the cruise.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Don't let your servers make you feel that you have to finish everything on your plate. They tend to think that means you didn't like it. Simply tell them you eat small portions and that usually stops the coaxing.

Good point. On my recent cruise, I didn't eat all my food the first night. My servers asked if everything was ok. They told me they wanted us to be happy with everything we ordered & to please tell them if there was anything they could do for us. I assured them everything was great, I just wanted to save room for dessert. The servers were perfect for our family, always checking to make sure we were happy, and also understanding we weren't always going to clear our entire plate.

To answer the OP, We found lots of healthy options and were pleased with the variety. We did use the stairs a lot and walked around deck 4. My sons jogged on deck 4 and enjoyed that!

Have a great cruise!

 

[aggiedog]

I gained no weight on our 7 day Northern Europe cruise. We eat healthy at home, and that didn't change much on the ship. We did get dessert every night, but I often didn't finish mine. I tend to choose entrees that have a good side of green veggies. I ate a LOT of salmon, because I love it and it was GOOD there. We rarely ate at the counter service places, but did get a slice of pizza between lunch and dinner on our sea days. None of us hit the ice cream or soda bar. Those aren't things we normally eat/drink at home. We also aren't big drinkers, which probably helps. I have bad knees, so only took the stairs if it was going to be 3 decks or less.

So it's very doable to enjoy your food but not come home 10 lbs heavier. (Reading this, it sounds like we eat like Puritans! Not so, we just really like fresh food. The food at Cabanas and the MDR's was great. We ate our fill for sure. I think the key is not maxing out ALL the eating choices on the ship.)

 

[xlxo]

I had planned on running on deck 4 during the cruise but somehow never got around to it. The one time I went out there to do it, half the deck was closed dues to winds.

When the deck is closed.... the halls are always open for a hike laps. Just need to avoid the cleaning crew and the dishes left outside the cabins.

Having a bow cabin, means a good hike to the restaurants each time.

 

[muse7mom]

I just did the Dream DD and never had fries once. I also didn't gain any weight. I agree that you can be reasonable if you think before you order.

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

On my first 8 night cruise I gained 8 pounds.
I'm still not sure how that happened because I walked a lot and I worked out.
But, I ate a LOT of cheese and I swear, too, the water does have sodium which did make me bloated.

I was bloated on the 2nd cruise that we took too, but gained less weight because I shared my cheese platters this time... hehe

Have fun and make healthy food choices- as all of the posters before me have said- there are an abundance of them. Set your mind to it... and a personal suggestion-- stay off of the scale while on the ship and enjoy your vaca.

 

[coloradocutie]

Congrats on your weight loss!
When we were on the Fantasy in concierge, we had lunch there daily. Honestly, we ate breakfast there daily as well. We eat healthy and watch our portion sizes, so we found that the smaller sized plates that the concierge lounge offered was just right for us- small yet quite tasty and always fresh. There was only one time we even went to the buffet (and that was to obtain some fruit and veggies). We appreciated having the lounge to enjoy the tasty samplings as it was always quiet and peaceful, as well. I think you will truly enjoy having the lounge as an option for meals. In the afternoon, they bring out all of the sweet treats with the mickey sprinkles on them- petite and just the right size for an afternoon snack.
Hope you enjoy your cruise!!

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

I can't speak for other countries, but Diet Coke in the United States is still made with aspartame. There is a Diet Coke available with Splenda, sucralose, but I don't think it's available on the ship

I'm in the US and have not heard about Diet Coke taking out the Aspartame. But I do know that Diet Pepsi IS taking out the aspartame starting this fall.