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EATING  HEALTHY IS PART OF THE CRUISE ITINERARY

By Bill Panoff, publisher of Porthole Cruise Magazine

Ask anyone about their favorite part of a cruise an invariably the answer has to do with "food." Bountiful breakfasts, delectable dinners or the madness of the "Midnight Buffet" are staples of almost any voyage.

Then there's the barbecue at lunch, the pizza in the late Afternoon (or at 2 a.m., on some ships), and the endless buffets and offerings that pop up like poolside conga lines throughout the day.

"They are serving food every 15 minutes somewhere on the ship," warns comedian Dom DeLuise in the June 1998 issue of Porthole magazine.

But what about healthy dining? While the food may be available, that doesn't mean you have to eat it. Here's how you can watch your weight while not spoiling your fun on a cruise.

When planning your cruise vacation, start by asking your travel agent or sales representative for a sample menu. Cruise lines have changed with the times. Many of them offer spa dishes on their menus with cholesterol and caloric counts.

Does the line you're considering have "lighter fare," or meals that contain lower levels of cholesterol, sugar, fat and salt? Does each menu offer salads or light pastas as entrees? Does each meal present a variety of meats, like beef, seafood and poultry? Instead of eating a high cholesterol meal like beef every night, seek variety. Look at the week's menu and see which night you might want a particular beef entr�e, so you don't wind up eating the same meat every evening.

Ask if the cruise line's kitchens typically accommodate special dietary requests (based not only on medical or religious needs, but just preference). Often, they'll make a special dish, or prepare a menu item a little differently, if provided enough advance notice. Many will make such accommodations, so don't settle for a line that won't.

The rest, then, is up to you. Nutritionists and smart eaters know that watching what you eat - and then eating it in moderation – is essential to a healthy diet. That extra lobster at dinner - followed by two heaping plates of pastries and chocolates at midnight - don't make for a balanced diet.

You'll also want to watch your beverages at the bar. A Caribbean cruise, with the steel drum band playing and the rhythm moving, is the perfect setting to take in a few tropical drinks. Or, when you're sunning on deck while plying the Mediterranean a drink in hand is almost a prerequisite. Then at dinner, couples will share a bottle of wine, followed by a few after-dinner cocktails in the lounge. On a seven-day voyage, the calories can add up.

Now, without getting myself in trouble with the cruise lines' bar and entertainment managers, might I suggest you might want to watch what you drink. Bottled water is increasingly popular on today's cruises, as are tea or coffee. Your bar tab - and your waist line - both will be lighter at the end of the voyage.

And remember: healthy living is a combination of the right diet and exercise. Whether you're walking the decks outside or a treadmill in the exercise room, work off some of the calories you'll inevitably consume during your cruise. You'll feel better and more invigorated during the cruise, and you might develop healthy habits that carry over into your post-cruise life.

Bill Panoff is a former cruise director and the publisher of Porthole Cruise Magazine. http://www.porthole.com . He welcomes comments or questions on cruising. You can write him at bpanoff@ppigroup.com

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