My favorite EPCOT festival is upon us! The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is here March 4 - June 1, 2020, and I'm looking forward to all the topiaries and Garden Rocks series. But if you're no stranger to my blog, you know I come out with a Weight Watchers version of the Foodie Guides that Disney Parks Blog comes out with every year - that is, I take a look at the full menu of all the festival food offerings and break down what I think the best options are for people following plans like WW, My Fitness Pal calorie counting, South Beach, etc. That's not changing any time soon, so let's grab our flowers and take a look at the menu!

GF = Gluten Free; PB = Plant Based

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

Let's talk first though about two things: dessert options and beverages. 

When it comes to desserts, I know that you're probably expecting me to say "avoid them entirely" since this is just as much a WW blog as it is a Disney one. But here's the thing: living your life avoiding a type of food is not realistic, and it's important to have a healthy relationship with food! Getting rid of language like "cheat," "bad," "naughty," etc. is important, and depriving yourself isn't healthy either! What I like to do when it comes to desserts, since I have a sweet tooth, is try something different that I can't just go home and easily make myself or pick up at the grocery store. This way, I'm not deprived but I also know I'm not going to set off a food craving. If you decide to try this, let me know how it works for you!

For beverages... I don't drink, so I can't speak to which alcohols are going to be lower in SmartPoints. And honestly, it could depend on exactly how much they pour in that day - every ounce counts! However, if you are aiming for whatever the lowest SmartPoints options or lowest calories are, then I am always going to recommend non-alcoholic in the event that the options are different mixed drinks (which a lot of these are). However, I'm still going to include the full list here, including beverages, just so you can make the most informed decision you possibly can leading up to your trip to EPCOT's International Flower and Garden Festival!

• Grilled Baby Vegetables with Hummus Cream and Red Pepper Coulis (PB)
• Seared Verlasso Salmon with Farro Risotto and Micro-herbs
• Strawberry Mousse with Chocolate Crisp Pearls 

  Beverage:

• Blood Orange Agua Fresca (non alcoholic)
• Cookie Butter Worms and Dirt (non alcoholic)

Magically Fit's recommendations: I think the grilled vegetables or seared salmon are good choices here - you've got some good protein options with lighter sides, and besides, they're sample-sized rather than a full meal! 

Food:

• Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Puree, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey-blistered Grapes, Sunflower Brittle, and Coriander Flowers  (GF)
• Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese, Charred Vegetables, Clover Honey Sour Cream, and Micro Citrus Greens 
• Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses

Beverage:

• Honey-Peach Freeze in a Souvenir Spike the Bee Sipper Cup (non-alcoholic)
  
  • Novelty Sipper Only Available While Supplies Last
• B. Nektar New Wave Lemonade Mead, Ferndale MI
• Florida Orange Groves Winery Orange Blossom Honey Wine, St. Petersburg, FL 
• Honey-Peach Freeze with Blueberry Vodka

​Magically Fit's recommendations: I'd go for the cauliflower option - I see a lot of zero to low SmartPoints options, and is a little lighter on the fats than the chicken flatbread.

Food:

• Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips
• Mixed Berry Buttermilk Cake
• DOLE Whip (PB)

Beverage:

• Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic) 
• DOLE Whip with Fanta (Non-Alcoholic)
• Collective Arts Brewing Piña Colada Sour, Hamilton, Ontario
• Maui Brewing Co. Pineapple Mana Wheat, Kihei, HI
• SweetWater Brewing Company Goin’ Coastal IPA with Pineapple, Atlanta, GA 
• Playalinda Brewing Company Violet Lemonade Ale, Titusville, FL 
• Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Pineapple Wine, St. Petersburg, FL 
• DOLE Whip  with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum 
• Pineapple Beer Flight 

Food:

• Lobster Tail with Meyer Lemon Emulsion and Grilled Lemon (GF)
• Tuna Tataki Bowl with Spicy Yuzu Glaze, Mango, Avocado, and Pappadam Crisp 
• Crispy Citrus Chicken with Orange Aioli and Baby Greens (GF)
• Citrus Shortcake: Orange Chiffon Cake, Lemon Curd, Mandarins, Whipped Cream, and Citrus Crumble

Beverage:

• Orange Cream Shake in a Souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup (Non-Alcoholic)
  • Novelty Sipper Only Available While Supplies Last
• Islamorada Beer Company Coconut Key Lime Ale, Fort Pierce, FL 
• First Magnitude Brewing Lemon Hefeweizen, Gainesville, FL 
• Heavy Seas Brewery TropiCannon Citrus IPA, Halethorpe, MD
• Orange Sunshine Wine Slushy 
• Beer Flight

Magically Fit's recommendations: For those of you unfamiliar with some of these flavors: tuna tataki is a Japanese style seared, raw tuna, and yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit. Pappadam is a thin, crisp, Indian style wafer and are kind of nutty flavored. If you want something filled with healthy fats and unique flavor, the tuna tataki bowl sounds delicious - so long as you're comfortable with raw fish (insert disclaimer here about risks of consuming raw seafood and increasing your risk of illness). If not, the lobster tail wins out over the crispy chicken - anything crispy gets a no from me if you're keeping WW or any diet plan in mind. 

Food Items: 

• Fried Green Tomatoes with Blue Crab-Fennel Salad, Remoulade, and Smoked Paprika Oil 
• Popsicle Trio: Honeydew, Raspberry-Mint, and Coconut-Lime (KA)

Beverage Items: 

• Short’s Brewing Company Starcut Ciders Squishy Hard Cider, Bellaire, MI

Magically Fit's recommendations: Neither of these options thrill me as far as being healthy-ish goes, but the popsicle trio sounds like an adorable way to share a dessert and sample different flavors. This is a perfect example of my dessert note from about about trying something different and unique that you can't just go pick up at the grocery store!

Food

• Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette and Apple-wood Smoked Bacon (GF) 
• Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables (KA)
• Griddled Maple Pound Cake with Warm Peach Compote and Sweet Corn Gelato (KA)

Beverage

• Maple Popcorn Shake (Non-Alcoholic, KA)
• Unibroue Éphémère Apple Wheat Ale, Chambly, Québec 
• 81Bay Brewing Apricot with Maple Syrup, Tampa, FL
• Collective Arts Brewing Blackberry Fruit Beer, Hamilton, Ontario
• Maple Popcorn Shake with Tap 357 Maple Rye Whisky 
• Beer Flight

Magically Fit: Everything on this menu is likely loaded with sugar, even the protein options. But, my guess would be that the scallops and beef are on equal footing here: the beef is likely going to be a bit fattier than the scallops, but the scallops have the bacon on the side and that brown butter vinaigrette. Since they're both sample sized, I think it's a wash either way you go.

Food:

• Tarte aux Oignons Caramélisés et Chèvre: Goat Cheese Tart with Caramelized Onions on a flaky Pastry Crust
• Canard Confit à l’Orange: Braised Duck Confit à l’Orange with Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Tarte Tropézienne, Coulis Framboise: Brioche Cake filled with Light Pastry Cream and served with Raspberry Coulis
• Éclair Chocolat Framboise: Éclair filled with Raspberry and Chocolate Mousse

Beverage:

• Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 Draft Beer
• VeRy Raspberry: Rosé Wine with Natural Raspberry Flavor
• Bordeaux, Merlot and Cabernet Blend, Château Tarin
• La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy: Vodka, Grey Goose l’Orange, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juice 

Food:

• Carne Guisada with Black Bean Cake and Cilantro-Lime Sour Cream
• Spicy Blackened Shrimp and Cheddar Cheese Grits with Brown Gravy and Local Sweet Corn Relish 
• Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue (KA)

Beverage:

• Watermelon Cucumber Slushy (Non-Alcoholic, PB, KA)
• Tampa Bay Brewing Company Twisted Strawberry Fest Fruit Ale, Tampa, FL 
• Big Top Brewing Company Conch Republic Key Lime Wheat, Sarasota, FL 
• First Magnitude Brewing Monarch Milk Stout, Gainesville, FL 
• Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Key Lime Wine, St Petersburg, FL
• Watermelon Cucumber Slushy with Gin
• Beer Flight

Magically Fit's Recommendations: I'd go for the shrimp - sounds like a lot of great flavors are in there, so you aren't sacrificing that while still keeping things lower in SmartPoints.

Food:

• Harissa Chicken Kebab with Dried Fruit Couscous Salad and Cilantro Oil
• Fried Cauliflower with Capers, Garlic Parsley and Chili-Ranch Sauce 
• Walnut Honey Baklava

Beverage:

• Casa Beer
• Larroque Chardonnay, Meknes
• White Sangria
• Desert Rose: Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur

Magically Fit's recommendations: Because it's not fried or sugary, and because it sounds delicious, I'd pick the harissa (a spice!) chicken kebab. Morocco Pavilion makes amazing couscous salad, and the cilantro oil is probably minimal due to it being more of a sample sized dish.

Food:

• Frushi: Strawberry, Pineapple, and Cantaloupe wrapped in Sweet Rice and Pink Soy Wrap served with Whipped Cream, Drizzled Berry Sauce and Toasted Coconut 
• Menchi Katsu Slider: Japanese-style Panko-breaded Beef Patty topped with Tonkatsu Sauce, Mayonnaise, Cucumber, and Pickled Lotus Root
• Salmon Flower Ikura: Fresh-cut Salmon, Salmon Roe, Spinach, Watermelon Radish, and Chilled Ramen tossed with Poke Sauce

Beverage:

• Kirin Draft Beer
• Strawberry Nigori Sake
• Furano Martini: Vodka, Lavender Syrup, and Yuzu Juice

Magically Fit recommendations: The Salmon Flower Ikura sounds like a great, refreshing option with a nice balance of protein, healthy fats, some carbs and vegetables. Also, if you're looking for another good example of something to curb a sweet tooth without disrespecting food triggers, I love the frushi!

• Mini Funnel Cake topped with Lemon Cheesecake Ice Cream, Blueberries, and Powdered Sugar 

Magically Fit recommendations: If you absolutely have to have a funnel cake while you are here, the mini one is the way to go unless you're sharing one with family! But this will help with portion control. Remember - to say you're never gonna have a dessert again is not realistic, so don't beat yourself up if you do have something while you are at Disney.

Food:

• Southern Seafood Boil: Shrimp, Mussels, Crawfish, Potatoes, Corn and Andouille Sausage
• Grilled Oysters with Cajun Butter
• House-made Boudin Two Ways with Spicy Mustard
• Pecan Cake with Maple Whipped Cream
• Pecan Praline

Beverage:

• Wild Heaven Beer Session Citrus Lager, Avondale Estates, GA
• The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery Amber Ale, Farmville, NC
• Parish Brewing Co. Ghost in the Machine Double IPA, Broussard,  LA
• Beer Flight

Magically Fit: For those unfamiliar, boudin is a bloodless sausage. However, my recommendation would be the seafood boil for something more hearty, or the grilled oysters if you want something less heavy.

Beverage:

• Arendelle Aqua Lemonade: Frozen Lemonade with Monin Cotton Candy (Non-Alcoholic)
• Redstone Meadery Black Raspberry Nectar, Boulder, CO
• Arendelle Aqua Lemonade: Frozen Lemonade served with Monin Cotton Candy and Ole Smoky Blackberry Moonshine

​
Magically Fit's recommendations: No food to note on; see above beverages comment! 

Food:

• La Regina “Margherita”: Rustic Italian Flatbread, Vine-ripened Tomatoes, Whole-Milk Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Basil 
• Ravioli: Grilled Chicken Ravioli with Spring Vegetables and creamy Pesto Sauce
• Zeppole: Ricotta Cheese Fritters, Powdered Sugar, Raspberry Sauce and Chocolate-hazelnut Drizzle 

Beverage:

• Peroni Nastro Azzurro Pilsner   
• Pinot Grigio, Santa Marina 
• Chianti, Gabbiano
• Prosecco, Villa Sandi
• Corbinello, Montegrande
• Moscato, Fior d’Arancio Montegrande
• Bellini
• Frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila

Magically Fit's recommendation: Thanks to both using cheesy sauces (or just straight up cheese, haha), I think either the flatbread or ravioli will be equivalent to one another as far as tracking it goes. Depends on if you want more protein or more fats!

Food:

• Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce (PB)
• Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions, and Herb Sour Cream 
• Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with Black Forest Ham and Melted Gruyere Cheese  
• Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries 

Beverage:

• M.I.A. Brewing Hugo, Doral, FL
• Bitburger Premium Pils, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
• Stiegl Brewery Radler Zitrone, Salzburg, Austria 
• Apfelschaumwein: Sparkling Wine and Apple Liqueur
• Beer Flight

Magically Fit's recommendation: I'd recommend the potato pancakes paired with apple sauce - while it does usually have sugar added, the caramelized ham likely also does and then that's not also fighting with the sour cream for room in your food diary.

Refreshment Outpost
Food Items:

• Pineapple Skewer with Tajin Seasoning (PB)

Beverage Items:

• 3 Daughters Raspberry Lemonade Dry Hard Cider, St. Petersburg, FL
• Short’s Brewing Company Starcut Ciders Mosa Hard Cider, Bellaire, MI
• Ciderboys Banana Bliss Hard Cider, Stevens Point, WI
• Cider Flight

Magically Fit's recommendation: There's only one option here, but that sounds like a really refreshing choice if you want some fruit with a twist! 

Food:

• Szechuan Spicy Red-braised Beef Shank over Rice
• Bon Bon Chicken Skewer with Sesame and Peanut Sauce
• House-made Crab and Cheese Wontons

Beverage:

• “Panda” Bubble Tea: Classic Milk Tea with Black and White Boba Pearls (Non-Alcoholic)
• Jasmine Draft Beer
• Marco Boba: Amaretto, Iced Coffee, Milk, and Boba
• Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango Syrup and Orange Juice
• Time Out: Bacardi Rum, Peach Liqueur, Peach Syrup, Pina Colada, Sprite, Soda Water, and Magic Boba

While peanut sauce can have a lot of sugar in it, I'm opting for the Bon Bon chicken skewer since it's not fried and it's a leaner protein. Bon Bon is another way of saying "bang bang chicken" like some restaurants in the States call it, so this likely also has some heat to it like the beef shank does.

Food:

• Chilaquiles con Pollo: Chipotle-braised Chicken and Tortillas served with Salsa Ranchera, Monterey Jack Cheese, Crema Mexicana, and Guajillo Cheese
• Quesadilla al Pastor: Flour Tortilla filled with Monterey Jack Cheese and Pork Pastor topped with Grilled Pineapple, Salsa Verde, Red Onion, and Cilantro
• Choriqueso Torta: Bolillo Roll filled with Chorizo and Monterey Jack Cheese, Avocado Mousse, and Jalapeños

Beverage:

• Cruz Blanca Rosé Spritz: Effervescent Rosé Wheat Ale with Elderflower Liqueur
• Mango Mexican Lucky Margarita: Spicy Ancho Verde Liqueur, 100% Agave Tequila Blanco, Mango-Passion Fruit Purée, Lime Juice, Applejack, and Ginger Cordial served with a Tajin Chili-Lime Salt Rim
• Rosita Margarita: Rose Petal Liqueur, 100% Agave Tequila Blanco, Lemon and Cranberry Juices served with a Rose Petal Salt Rim

Magically Fit's recommendations: The chicken is likely less points than the pork; both feature cheese, but the chicken has a cream based sauce, so it's likely comparable. I'd go for either of those options.

Food:

• Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with Savory Garlic Spread (GF, PB)  
• Impossible Farmhouse Meatball with Lentil Bread, Spinach, Marinated Vegetables, and Creamy Herb Dressing (PB)
• Chocolate Pudding Terrarium with Avocado Cream, Matcha Crumble, and Baby Herbs (GF, PB)

Beverage:

• Bloomin’ Blueberry Lemon and Ginger Tea featuring Twinings of London (Non-Alcoholic) 
• Playalinda Brewing Company Tropical Wonderland Wheat Ale, Titusville, FL 
• Bloomin’ Blueberry Lemon and Ginger Tea featuring Twinings of London with Tito's Handmade Vodka served in a Mason Jar 

Magically Fit's recommendation: I love the amount of vegetables that the meatball comes with, and it's likely a lower in SmartPoints amount of Impossible "meat" since it's going to be more of a sample option than a full blown dish. If you go for the grilled street corn, just be cautious of how much garlic spread is on there!

Also, this is the one time I'll make an additional comment on a beverage option: I'd definitely go for the blueberry lemon and ginger tea (non alcoholic) as ginger tea is great for you and your digestive system. 

Food:

• Lamb Curry with Sweet Plantains and Rice
• Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut-Lime Sauce 
• Tropical Mousse Cup: Layers of Passion Fruit Cake, Coconut Mousse, and a Tropical Fruit Glaze with Fresh Pineapple

Beverage:

• Tropical Freeze (Non-Alcoholic)
• Golden Road Brewing Tart Mango Cart Wheat Ale, Los Angeles, CA 
• Tropical Freeze with Parrot Bay Mango Rum 

Magically Fit's recommendation: Don't be fooled - while the sugar is more obviously there in the sugar cane shrimp skewer, it's also probably present in the sweet plantains. Either option is probably a wash no matter which way you go!

Then there are options! You can pack your own food, so long as you're not bringing a massive cooler in there with you. You can get some ideas from what I like to bring with me when I go to Disney World and know I'll be there for lunch at this article right here. 

One of the things I love to bring with me if I'm just trying to avoid Disney sweets? Built Bars! They range from 3-5 SmartPoints (only 1 limited flavor has been 5 points; the bulk are 3 SmartPoints, with nutty flavors being 4 SmartPoints) and hold up pretty well all day in the parks if you pop them in the fridge or freezer the night before (they're made with real chocolate). Get 10% off your order of Built Bars when you use the coupon MAGICALLYFIT at checkout (if you order through this link, your discount will be automatically applied)! 

What are you most looking forward to trying? Let me know in the comments which of these options is your favorite!

My husband and I have been wanting to try Teppan Edo at Epcot for years, and finally we did for a nice Valentine's Day evening! This Walt Disney World restaurant is one of my new favorites and I had to review it for you all to see why - plus, a few tips for not going overboard at a hibachi are at the end if you're on Weight Watchers like I am!

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

Teppan Edo is a Japanese hibachi grill in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot, located in the World Showcase. Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining are both located on the second floor of Mitsukoshi, the gift shop of the Japan Pavilion. There are some gorgeous views of the Japan Pavilion here (and when you get your pager after checking in, you can roam the entire Japan Pavilion with it - you are not restricted to just the lobby!). 

You will likely need a dining reservation, which you can book on the Disney website or the My Disney Experience app. To check in, head up the stairs (or elevator) and you will find yourself in the lobby. A cast member helped us check in, and as the restaurants share a lobby, it was helpful - but note that Teppan Edo is on the left side when you enter.

Like most hibachi restaurants, your table is communal style. Your server sets you up with your drinks and your order, and will ask if anyone would like - as our server Ryo called them - “cheater chopsticks” which a few people at our table accepted. Ryo took the paper sheath the chopsticks came in, turned them into origami cranes like it was as simple as folding the paper in half once, and then used the crane to attach the chopsticks, held together by a rubber band. Color me impressed! 

Our chef was Yasuka, and let me just start off by saying if I could hire her to cook for me every night, I would. The atmosphere was very fun, and because you are at Disney, as Yasuka said, “Mickey is everywhere!” This started with her putting the soybean oil on the grill in the shape of Mickey Mouse ears (plus added a bow to make it Minnie Mouse), and continued with the onion volcano being transformed into Mickey with the help of other vegetables. Even when she put the butter on our vegetables, she put the little scoops on there to resemble Mickey ears! This is such a cute touch, even for adults.

My husband and I both ordered the chicken and shrimp. When you get an entree here, you get a ton of food - ours came with a salad (with a delicious ginger-based dressing), then udon and vegetables, then white rice, and whatever your protein options are. 

So it goes without saying that hibachis can strike fear in the hearts of Weight Watchers - after all, as you can see, we got a ton of food with our meal, and it can be scary to tackle when you are out and far from home. But have no fear! Here are some tips for managing if you're worried about going overboard.

1. Don't be afraid to ask for a to go box. This is a great tactic at any restaurant, especially when you ask for one right off the bat. Then, you can practice some portion control while you're there so you don't feel bloated beyond belief if you, like me, don't trust yourself to not eat everything put on your plate.
2. Pace yourself. The beauty of hibachi grills is that you don't usually get all your food served at the same time. You're watching them cook it up and it is being served to you piece by piece - this was the case at Teppan Edo, at least, and has been at other hibachis I've been to. If you find them serving it to you piece by piece, take it slow and give yourself time to digest and ask yourself how full you're feeling. You can even try a few bites of everything, but save some for later so you can sample everything and then do your fullness check - and then if you are full, your to go box will come in handy!  
3. Pre-track your meal to the best of your ability. Do this before you track any of your other food for the day. This way, you know what you are working with in two regards: you can plan for lower SmartPoints (but still healthy and nutritious - don't starve yourself!) for your other meals, but also you can go into the restaurant with a game plan, especially if you checked the menu beforehand. Unfortunately, Disney does not include the nutritional info for any of their restaurants, so the best I can do for tracking is generic options in My Fitness Pal and the WW app. That being said, I'm also sure to track a little butter and soybean oil since I know they typically cook with it. I also like to plan to go on the higher side to play it safe. 
4. To avoid deprivation, try something you wouldn't normally have. This is something I like to do with desserts because I have a sweet tooth. To avoid eating my trigger foods, I stick to a rule with desserts that always works for me: try something I can't just get at the grocery store, and if I'm to have anything, have it while I'm out. I tried the Green Tea Mousse Cake at Teppan Edo and it was delicious, worth however many Weekly SmartPoints I spent on it, but because it's not like I can just go buy that at Publix, I didn't feel the need to go on a sweets binge the next day. If savory foods are more your thing, you could apply this method to that as well. It allows me to not feel deprived while also not setting me back into a cycle of bad habits.
5. Enjoy yourself and use your Weekly SmartPoints! Sometimes, special occasions come up and you're going to want to enjoy your evening without obsessing over calories. If we were not allowed to use our Weekly SmartPoints on WW, we would never have been given them in the first place, so don't be afraid to dip into that budget and be kind to yourself. Remember, no one lost weight from eating one salad, so you won't gain a ton from one meal either. 

What is your favorite spot around the World Showcase? Japan is my favorite by far! Let me know in the comments where you tend to hang out the most at Epcot. 

Whether you're on vacation, a business trip, or out of town for a special event like a wedding, it can be nerve-wracking getting out of your routine when you're chugging along on your weight loss journey. Trust me, this is something I struggled with (and how this blog was born!) - when you're making good progress, you don't want to find yourself feeling defeated because the number on the scale went up after your vacation time. 

While it's sometimes near impossible to be 100% in control, there are a few steps you can take to help you get pretty close. I've gathered the steps I take - and have helped me lose weight when spending long weekends at Disney or work trips - so that way, you have a guide to help you if you're feeling overwhelmed. Specifically, here are five tips for how you can eat healthy in your hotel room.

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​Read more here!

Even if it’s a business trip where your boss books the room for you, you’ll still likely know where you’re going before you pack your bags. So if you have the ability, be sure to look up where you’re staying and the in-room amenities before traveling. If you’re the one booking the room, try to see if you can book a place where there’s more you can use. For example, a place like Candlewood Suites has a mini-kitchen in it with more appliances (including a refrigerator) than a standard hotel room, and most places - even the most basic of them all - have a microwave and, sometimes, a mini-fridge. These things should be listed on their website, and if not, available in photographs of the room or something you could call the front desk about.  ​If you know you have a refrigerator in your hotel room, then that makes it all the easier to meal prep.

Nonperishables are your friend! You can keep it pretty basic and still stay healthy. Just be on the lookout for high sodium counts with nonperishable food items, but there are plenty of ways you can keep the SmartPoints or calories to a minimum. Look for things like 100 calorie packs of nuts, canned (or pouched) chicken and tuna, fruit (especially apples, clementines, and other fruits that don’t need refrigeration), low-calorie breads with PB2 (and, if you have a refrigerator, sugar-free or reduced-sugar jelly), cold cuts if you have a fridge, and your favorite healthy snacks. ​

Whether you’re on vacation or a business trip, chances are there are going to be a few mornings where you have breakfast in the room or on the go. If you can pre-plan with healthy breakfasts or even a protein bar - Built Bars are my favorite at only 3 SmartPoints, and make for a great snack if you have breakfast reservations - then that’s one way to not worry about at least one of your meals. When I went on a business trip to Virginia, I bought a box of protein bars before I left to have for breakfast since I knew that lunch and dinner would be eaten at restaurants every day, and I still managed to lose weight when I stepped on the scale upon my return home!

​With Built Bars, you can get 10% off if you use the coupon code magicallyfit at checkout!

This is helpful to know if you’re on the go so you don’t have to succumb to what you feel is the only option if you’re on the go. This way, you know exactly what your options are and what the healthier ones are. This way, you can confidently say you’re trying your best, which goes a long way when you’re stuck eating out.

You can base what tools you pack based on what is available in your hotel room (especially after you researched like point 1!). Get some tools that you can have in your hotel room or your purse so that way you can be prepared, even on the go. Some of my favorite tools for this are…

1. Collapsible measuring cups that can stack flushly for you to toss in your purse. This means they’re great for both hotels and going out to eat!
2. To go containers for dressing. This way, if you picked up some (like Skinnygirl brand or another low calorie favorite) at the grocery store or ordered some online, you can put it in a convenient carrier.
3. Sandwich containers are great so you can make something with a low calorie bread or wrap and pack it with protein and leafy greens. These are slim enough to fit in your bag and also reusable so it’s good for your wallet in the long-run and your environment. 
4. Small pre-portioned containers (kind of like the ones you get for 21 Day Fix!) are also great if you buy a bulk bag of nuts, for instance, and want to pre-pack out a serving. These can also be used for other snacks like veggies, crackers, or anything good to munch on!

With these tips, you can feel less overwhelmed and nervous about your upcoming trip and feel more in control. People will often ask me, "Jess, why even bother? Calories don't count at Disney!" or, "Why don't you just relax on vacation?" Well, for me - and I know for many others - it just takes one moment of discouragement to throw your groove out of whack, and the last thing you want to do is feel like you are out of control when it comes to that happening.

Just remember that, no matter what happens on your vacation or when you step on your scale, to be kind to yourself. My Weight Watchers leader once said that in every set back, there's a learning opportunity, and you wouldn't slash the remaining three tires on your car if one of them went flat.  

Have any questions? No matter how specific, feel free to email me, DM me on social media, or leave them in the comments!