Is Your Vacation Breaking the Bank or Your Diet?
Eating out on vacation costs 7-8 times more than eating in!
Most people know that eating out costs more money than eating in. The average grocery bill for a family of four is $200 to $250 per week depending on the age of the children. This works out to be about $8 per person per day. A common guide for calculating meal costs on vacation is $60 per person per day! For a family of four, this amounts to $1680 per week on vacation, or 7-8 times more than the cost of eating in!
Eating out this often may break more than just the bank. On average, a restaurant meal is 1128 calories, which is more than half of daily calorie needs. You can make the same meal at home for half of the calories, not to mention the cost. That's why the Weight and Wellness Center at Tufts MC in Boston has provided the below tips for travelers.
Here are some tips for how to save money and calories while on vacation:
- Choose a hotel room that includes a kitchen or mini fridge and microwave
- Choose a hotel that serves continental breakfast
- Bring paper plates, napkins, and plastic silverware
- Coordinate your schedule to have at least two meals in per day and enjoy one meal out
Here are some easy meal and snack ideas:
- Breakfast ideas: greek yogurt with high fiber cereal and fresh fruit; whole grain English muffin with peanut butter, 1 cup low fat milk; breakfast burrito with eggs, beans, low fat cheese, salsa
- Snack ideas: celery and carrots with hummus; apple with peanut butter; protein bar; cheese sticks
- Lunch ideas: sandwich on whole grain bread with deli meat, sliced cheese, and a spread such as hummus, pesto, or mustard
- Dinner ideas: frozen vegetables, whole wheat pasta, meat sauce with ground turkey
