I can't go on holiday right now, but when we can again, I think we'll be on the first flight back to Venice. Except, I wouldn't know how to keto there properly, because I don't speak the language, but I do know I'd try... (If only to avoid the carb flu when I return!) From what I understand though, the Italians split up their meals in courses different from ours... And there's a carby course; you can just skip "Primo" entirely (risotto, pasta etc) and double up on the secundo or insalata courses? No idea whether that'd work, but worth a try. I mean, there's a LCHF diet called the Mediterranian, so... Should be doable on meats, veggies and cheeses. IF you want, of course. I don't know how I'd do in Venice without some of their fabulous ice cream, but I do think I'd try. Would also probably have a little card in English and (googled) Italian with me, saying I'm diabetic and therefor eat low carb, (no pasta, rice etc) and whether they can help me pick out something that suits me, with some
mille grazie plonked in.
The Italians have a wonderful, keto-friendly kitchen, but it might take some doing. Besides that.... Pizza. Ice cream. I don't know whether my resolve would be strong enough, but then, I have a husband whose plate I can steal a bite from without breaking keto.
It's really the same as it is with Christmas; some break their diet for a few days, others find a work-around. Personal choice, up to you.
As for restaurants, I have found that I have relatively little trouble asking them to adjust dishes to suit me. I just ask really nicely whether I can be a difficult customer, and tip well when we settle up. (They'd rather adjust a dish than throw perfectly good food out). The other day we celebrated my husband's belated birthday at the Efteling amusementpark, and I had two meals there: fries got swapped out with extra salad both times, eggs came without their bread on my request, and oh my, that steak was wonderful... If you just ask for extra veggies of salad to replace fries, bread and such... You can go a long way. Even Burger King and McD's are happy to flip me a burger without a bun, no questions asked. I do tend to check menu's online before I go anywhere, so I don't get overwhelmed when there's a server beside me, but salads and eggs are my safe go-to's, as is any kind of proper meat or oooh, salmon. I just ask for veggies instead of fries/spuds/rice and voila, done. Took me a little over a year and a half to get the confidence to tweak recepies, but my usual haunts already know there's a tip at the end of it for their trouble.
*(Yes, eating out has become more expensive this way... But also very enjoyable.
)
Keto shouldn't feel like a prison. The new diet is a lifetime committment, but it has to be doable. So have your cheat meals if you want to on trips, if you really need that to be able to enjoy your holiday. But maybe look into going low carb/high fat (as in, moderately low carb, rather than keto), when you have achieved the weight and bloodsugars you want and are stable... Because if keto is making you miserable, it's not sustainable for the next 30, 50 years. I like this way of eating and I feel good on it, and getting slowly more confident in eating out... But I realise that doesn't go for everybody. Use it as a means to an end, then go from there.
And whatever you do... Enjoy your holiday!
