Healthy Eating and Vacation?

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, it’s likely you know I’m in Hawaii when this post hits the internet…maybe even flying over the Pacific as you read.  Anyway, it’s been a few years since I went on a real vacation…and the first one where I’ll be eating healthy as a habit.  I wonder how I’ll do.  Don’t you?  Will I give up the ghost for two weeks and just eat whatever I want?  Will I be sacrificial and say no no no no?  Doubt it…on both counts.  We’ll just have to see.

Before I leave, though, I will do my best to prepare for healthy eating as much ahead of time as I can.  I’ve packed daily pouches of all my medications and vitamins.  I’ve got two-weeks’ worth of supplies of both my cholesterol lowering supplement drink, and my daily matcha energy tea drink.  I’ve packed my protein powder and a manual shaker cup.  It’s not a Nutribullet®, but it works.  I’ve been testing it for the last few days.  It works fine as long as I shake it up enough.  It even works with water, if I can’t wrangle some almond milk…more likely it will just be priced too exorbitantly for me.  Believe it or not, I’m taking my own organic natural peanut butter.  It mixes well in the shaker cup, so I don’t have to get bored with the plain vanilla flavor.

Normally, I’m not a big snacker.  Mostly, I just don’t bring snacks into my house anymore.  But I know when I get to Hawaii, that’s a whole different story.  When I begin to see things from my childhood or things I haven’t tasted in years, I’ll want to try everything.  EVERYTHING!  Been there…done that.  So, to help curb the chance of eating an entire bag of One-Ton Chips, I’ve also packed some handmade beef jerky in my carry-on as well as in my suitcase for later.  Hopefully that will help me say nay to the big red bag calling my name.  I’ve also got my stainless steel bottle of water.  If I stay hydrated enough, I might not even want a snack.

Since I can’t really take fresh fruit or veggies to Hawaii, I will be doing some pre-planning to make sure I can pick up what I need when I get to Honolulu.  I have plans with my sister to stop at the grocery store before we head over to our cousin’s home.  I’ll have to stick to bananas when it comes to fruits.  I can eat those easily enough, but most other fruits I’d normally add to my protein shake in the morning.  Since I’m going manual with that, I won’t be able to really blend the fruit up with my pathetic hand/arm shaking method.  Plus…who knows how much berries will cost.

As far as other meals go, I know for a fact we’ll be eating out a lot.  Dining with family for birthdays or just to meet up.  That will be the test for me, I think.  I know what kind of choices I should make, and what kind of dishes I should avoid.  However, I also know there are times when I will have little no chance at avoiding a “bad” choice.  For example, my non travel-partner sister has already requested I visit Chinatown in Honolulu and eat a local item that you can only get in Hawaii…oh, and take a picture of it.   So, I will go to Char Hung Sut on Pauahi St in downtown Honolulu and eat two mai tai soo for my sister.  I’m absolutely positive there will be pork hash (aka siu mai) and some manapua (aka char siu bao) in the box, too.

For my Chinese food lovers out there, Mai Tai Soo is a bun that was developed by Chinese immigrants to Hawaii.  It was also known as the Chop Suey Bun.  It’s usually a mixture of dried shrimp (ebi) and vegetables and sometimes a bit of char siu (bbq pork).  It’s the dough that makes it different from other buns or dumplings.  It’s not a bready wheat dough like that used in bao, nor is it a sticky rice dough like that used for har gow or its like.  It’s a flaky pastry dough with distinct layers.  But it’s not buttery and crumbly like a croissant.  It’s hard for me to describe.  I’m sorry.  Also, you won’t find it in mainland China, in Taiwan or any dumpling house in any other major city around the world.  You have to go to Honolulu, my friends. Just another reason for you to visit.

I also know that while in Hilo on the Big Island, I’m sure we’ll be visiting a restaurant favorite or two.  We’ll probably hit up Hawaiian Style Café for dinner one night, and probably Ken’s House of Pancakes for breakfast.  Ken’s will be a danger zone for me because the one thing I always get there is Loco Moco…a local Hawaiian concoction of white rice, a hamburger patty, an egg (or two) and lots of brown gravy!  It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Since I know there will be “traps” waiting for me, I’ll just have to avoid them or make good eating choices elsewhere to compensate.  That’s the plan, anyway.  Wish me luck, my friends.  Look for my Facebook posts and my tweets while I’m away from home.  I’m also going to try my hand at that Instagram thing.

You can hold me accountable from afar!  Aloha!

Until next time…