Our Lake Tahoe Vacation: Balancing Eating In and Dining Out
A few days ago we came back from a 5-day Lake Tahoe vacation. It was a truly wonderful trip with our dear friends, gorgeous nature, perfect weather and good food. We were a group of 4 adults and 2 toddlers. While we originally wanted to stay in a house on the beach with a pool, we started our search quite late and ended up in a waterfront hotel property. We were still able, though, to get an individual cottage for all of us with a full kitchen, which was very convenient when traveling with kids.
We knew in advance that we would have a kitchen, so we decided to bring some groceries, including breakfast and lunch essentials and healthy snacks, to avoid eating out 3 times a day. We planned to have breakfast in our cottage most of the time and make our own lunch whenever we were not away from the hotel property during the day. Besides saving you a lot of money, this really eliminates a lot of hustle of getting everyone out of the house or dragging kids from the beach, finding a breakfast or lunch place, getting back to the hotel, etc.
Here is how we stacked our vacation kitchen:
1. Breakfast items: gluten free oats, buckwheat, raw nuts, almond and peanut butter and other breakfast toppings, such as cacao nibs, hemp seeds, chia seeds, honey, etc.; fruits and berries; eggs, turkey bacon, breakfast sausages; paleo pancake mix; dairy and non-dairy yogurts and milk.
2. Lunch: mixed greens, basic veggies such as tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, bell peppers, avocados; canned corn, chickpeas and marinated artichokes for salad toppings; cheese and deli meats; more eggs; whole grain bread and wraps.
3. Snacks: apples, bananas, applesauce, rice crackers, dried cherries, cheese sticks.
4. Other items: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, tea; a few food containers and sandwich bags.
Why bother bringing your own groceries when you can eat out all the time?
1. It's cheaper. As you know, eating out and buying snacks from the hotel shops, cafes, etc. adds up very quickly.
2. It saves you time. Some people would think that making your own food takes longer than going out and having someone else cook for you. It's not the case when it comes to simple meals like porridge, eggs or salad. Especially, when eating out always requires driving somewhere, getting everyone ready, finding a place, etc. Also, you can save a lot of time on lunch by making 'to-go' lunch boxes, such as wraps, sandwiches or even a salad in a container, and bringing it with you to the beach. This way you can enjoy your lunch outside with a beautiful view, without a need to drag your kid out of the lake or a pool, wash off all the sand, change and drive somewhere when you can have it all right on the spot.
3. It makes you eat healthier. There is a pretty good chance you'll order a burger (which comes with French fries, of course), fish and chips, fish tacos, or something similar when going out for lunch, which is less nutritious than a wholesome fresh sandwich or a salad that you can make from the ingredients listed above. Even if you order a salad, it's likely going to be higher in calories than the salad you'd make at home.
Keeping it healthy and stress-free
Our strategy to bring some basic food items really made it much more enjoyable and easier for all of us. It was fun and relaxing to have a chitchat with friends while making some healthy pancakes or eggs for breakfast together, setting up a table, and watching kids playing around the dining room. We actually ended up eating breakfast in our cottage every day and made our own lunch 3 times out of 5.
We also were able to fit in a bunch of outdoor activities, which made it even more fun and sporty. Besides swimming in the pools and the lake, we biked for a day around the South Lake Tahoe area and the lake shore, walked around town and some parks, and tried to spend as much time outside in the fresh air as possible. Besides that, we also spent a day on the boat and went up the mountain on the gondola, which was equally exciting even if not that active. So, all in all, it was a success - great company, fresh air and lots of memories.
What are some of your tips for eating healthy and staying active while on vacation?