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The Quintanas, Week 25: The Buffet Comes After Us, and We WIN!
Filed under: Healthy Families Challenge
Last week, my family was able to enjoy our first full vacation in more than six years. Sure, we've had a few weekends away here and there, but not like this. We spent eight glorious days in beautiful Savannah, Georgia.
Beth, my oldest daughter, turns 15 in May, which is like a sweet 16 in our culture. Instead of the big party, she opted for a trip, so off to Savannah we went. Thanks to the Healthy Families Challenge, we left prepared to do battle against unhealthy vacation carrots. Although there were a few dangling vegetables (and much worse) along the way, we came out of it pretty unscathed.
David, my husband, drove with a gallon of water by his side to avoid the soda pitstops, and we brought bottled waters, and almonds and cereal bars as snacks, for everyone.
The next morning in Savannah, we woke up to what would be our daily continental breakfast. If this was a movie, you would now hear that dreadful music that lets you know someone might be in trouble ...
It's true, I did just recently write that I would stay away from buffets. Of course, this was an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, starting with coffee and juice, and ending in cereal. In the middle, there was french toast, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, danishes, and all kinds of bread items, including a waffle maker turning out crispy goodies. Actually, there were two waffle makers, one that made four baby waffles, and another that made a gargantuan waffle.
David and I found it safest to stay away from the monster waffles. We opted to share the baby waffles, and eat them with sugar-free syrup. That was pretty much what we ate every morning. David also indulged in biscuits with gravy, since they are his ultimate favorite and not commonly found in Miami, where we live. The older kids, Aaron, Beth and Christian, each had one ginormous waffle every morning. My youngest, Chloe, who likes cereal, would have a small bowl of Special K with 2% milk and two baby waffles with syrup.
What a Trip! Credit: Nory Garcia
In Savannah, there really is no option downtown other than to park and walk. And walk we did. We were missing our classes back home, but we did not lack for exercise. We figured we managed to walk, at the very least, 10 miles over the entire vacation.
The next day, things got dangerous. Beth wanted to have a birthday lunch at The Lady & Sons. This restaurant belongs to southern chef Ms. Paula Deen. Once again, we were faced with a buffet, this time all down-home fixins. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and it goes on. I'm proud to say I chose the asparagus sandwich on rye, while everyone else bolted to the buffet. The famous southern fried chicken was the unanimous favorite. I was impressed with my vegetarian meal, as a lot of restaurants don't include us.
The rest of the trip was pretty safe, though with quite a few small snack-sized meals at fast-food places with healthier options, including Taco Bell's fresco menu (they call it a "Drive-Through Diet"), Subway's "Jared" Menu and Arby's turkey on wheat or lean roast-beef sandwiches.
Back at home, we discovered that David had gained four pounds and I had gained two. Not to worry. We're already back to the gym! I started boot camp at The Doral Vineyard and have attended yoga at Pranoga twice.
And I am already down a pound.
David and the kids are stoked about getting to American Top Team of Doral to start training with the new head coach, Thiago "The Warrior" Silva, a UFC light heavy-weight Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. And Chloe is back to her class at the Little Gym of Doral.
Buffets, you don't scare us a bit.
Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.
Check out how the other families are doing!
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 2)
4-02-2011 @ 8:17PM
sarah said...Well watch out ladies.. As you age, between 45-55 your estrogen and hormones decrease which increases thigh and hip fat... Also, your testosterone levels rise and that increases belly fat! It just isn't fair:)
Reply
4-02-2011 @ 8:37PM
jennifer stewart said...paula dean is the reason why i don't like butter butter butter butter butter butter butter that's all she preaches and that's all she eat's i'll put a dab of butter on it how the hell is that healthy that's not healthy that's sick man butter is ok on occasion so their you go no damn butter butter butter butter
Reply
4-02-2011 @ 8:36PM
Alice Lindsley said...When one goes on vacation, it's okay to eat a few things you don't ordinarily include in your stay at home menu. I think people are too "skinny conscious" and miss out on some of the more enjoyable things in life. That doesn't mean you have to "pig out" three meals a day. Lighten up a little when on vacation and enjoy!
Reply
4-02-2011 @ 9:13PM
teresa said...perfectly stated Alice.
4-03-2011 @ 12:16AM
GINI said...MODERATION AND COMMON SENSE, PEOPLE. WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT.i.e., METABOLISM, APPITITES, ECONOMICS.....THEY ARE ALL FACTORS. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE BUTTER FROM PAULA OR THE GARLIC FROM EMERIL, CHANGE THE CHANNEL. AS FOR "PAULA KILLING MORE PEOPLE......", I CANNOT BELIEVE SHE HELD A GUN TO THEIR HEADS. CHANGE THE CHANNEL! IT OBVIOUSLY IS NOT MEANT FOR YOU. LIVE AND LOVE....LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO DO OTHERWISE. GOD BLESS
4-03-2011 @ 1:58AM
sadie said...I am a nutritionist and I agree with you, Alice.
4-02-2011 @ 8:39PM
alice robinson said...I'm glad you came to vacation in Savannah Ga...I live here and while I'm glad you got to see some of the more notorized places to eat, you really should check into some of the other local spots where you could find alot of places that offer "southern comfort" with out the high calories....next time try Mrs. Wilkes...plenty of veggie dishes, even tho "southern cooked" are still veggies and calories are alot less, but, food is just as filling. And we do have alot more restaurants with the same options!....but, thanks for choosing our city
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4-02-2011 @ 8:55PM
judi said...I love the Paula Deen cooking show. If you don't want butter then don't eat it. It is simple when you go to a buffet, you pick what is the most healthy and you will be fine with your diet.
4-02-2011 @ 9:14PM
teresa said...what a waste of printed space and ink. this is the dumbest article in quite some time. Neither Paula Deen nor your hotel's continental breakfast buffet makes you fat, your choices make you fat!!!! Am I picking on fat people? no, as I have no room to pick on others but I don't blame the restaurants where I eat for my caloric intake. besides, if you think that the kids eating huge waffles and cereal was a good choice then go back to nutrition 101.
Reply
4-02-2011 @ 9:21PM
Michele said...I'm from NJ and took a trip to Savannah, GA with my best friend and ate at The Lady and Sons a few times while visiting. The food we had ordered off the menu was incredible but I have to say that the buffet wasn't up to par as I had expected. There was really nothing special to it. Yes there was down home fixings but it wasn't anything you couldn't get at any other local food joint. Next time I just plan on sticking to the menu.
Reply
4-02-2011 @ 9:49PM
gene1109 said...I, too, thought the buffet was way over hyped. It was just food and truthfully, I can do better. My wife even made that statement today after we heard some ladies talking that had been to Ms Dean's place. I am proud Paula has been a success as she had a "tough row to hoe" but I would not drive far to eat there again. The people that flock in there have been missing out on good country cooking.
4-02-2011 @ 9:41PM
jeffrey lebowski said...paula deen's cooking has killed more people than i can count...
Reply
4-02-2011 @ 10:07PM
Kenneth Larson said...Either you have to stop eating rich food too much or else exercize every day or another way for older people is to have nutritious meals delivered once a day by van to your home at low cost and either three meals to gain weight or two meals to lose weight and cut out all the nibbling awaiy at cookies, candy, ice cream, pretzels, chips and maybe fatty beer while sitting in front of the TV or computer. A hospital "meals on wheels" can send by van two hot nutritious meals at low cost once a day and that's all you need to eat to lose weight gradually week by week.
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4-02-2011 @ 10:32PM
Firehaven said...You can eat almost anything...just don't eat everything...
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4-02-2011 @ 10:44PM
fifonfif said...I'd like to know who the hell these people are, who are saying: "stop eating this kind of food", or "this food kills". No one puts a gun to your head to eat this. It's what Southerners grew up with and let them eat what they want to eat. You "vag-itarians" and "food snobs" look down your noses thinking your sooooo superior cause you follow what "society" tells you to eat! Booo! Shame on you! I grew up on a Farm. We grew our fruits and vegetables. We had milk from the cow (with the cream!) and ate the eggs from the coop. We used BACON and BUTTER. There are 13 of us and EVERY SINGLE one of us get a check up every year, and we're healthy. Why? Cause we got off our asses and were active, rather than spending HOURS in front of the Video Games and Computer game or whatever. Have fun being a "follower".
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4-03-2011 @ 2:44PM
Pam said...I have to agree with you. It's all about moving your body. The more you move the better you can control your weight. Then you can eat the things you like in moderation.
4-03-2011 @ 2:43PM
Pam said...WHAT??? Waffles for breakfast every morning? The eggs along with a bowl of Special K & non fat milk would have been a better choice. You need protein in your morning meal to keep you going through to lunch. I'm sure that continental breakfast bar had fruit that they also should have ate instead of waffles.
Anyone can make good food choices no matter where you eat. This article was useless.
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4-02-2011 @ 11:28PM
BearStar55 said...Well, Paula Dean's butter,butter,butter don't bother me near as much as Emrill Lagasse's Garlic,Garlic,Garlic on EVERY damn thing he cooks! I bet the guy even puts garlic in his orange juice! It's Sick the way he puts garlic on Everything! I can't eat garlic or regular onions. Tears up my stomach something awefull!
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4-03-2011 @ 12:56AM
Kathy Thomas said...NOW HEAR THIS!!!!!! PAULA DEEN IS NOT A CHEF!!!!!
4-03-2011 @ 1:15AM
solomeeo said...Maybe not, but shes a DAMN GOOD COOK!!!!!
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