Like everyone else, keto people enjoy warm weather, cold drinks, and all inclusive resorts. We were a bit worried about going to Mexico and struggling with getting food. Some people just throw keto out the window when on vacation, and I have no judgment on that. But, for people who do keto because of health issues (like Bill), that’s not an option. We worried about being on a resort with limited food options. Would we end up eating at the buffet morning, noon, and night? How difficult is eating keto at resorts in Mexico?
Eating Keto at Resorts for Breakfast
We always find keto breakfasts at restaurants easy and this was no exception. We ate at sit-down restaurants for most of our breakfasts. Bacon or ham and eggs are a very popular option internationally. We went to the buffet several times as well and enjoyed their omelet bar. They didn’t really have a lot of different options, although they did have some nuts and berries which were a nice add on. One breakfast we tried had breakfast tacos. We just didn’t eat the tortillas. They were amazing!
Keto Lunch Options
We started out going to the beach BBQ for lunch. We knew they had hamburgers available, so we just go them without the bun. The condiments were in separate packages, so it was easy. It was okay, but not really worth getting out of the Bali bed for.
Then, we found a buffet lunch. It was so good! They had roasted vegetables, an assortment of cooked meats, and a huge salad bar. Best of all, you could go in your bathing suit and cover up, so you didn’t have to go back to the room to change first. I wish we had found this place sooner!
Eating Keto at Resorts for Dinner
So, this was trickier. We could always go to the buffet, which was easy. But, the food at buffets is never stellar. We did a bit of research before our trip, knowing that menus can change but it gave us an idea of what kind of food was being served at different restaurants. It also depended on what reservations were available for the time we wanted to eat.
We had a couple of misses and a couple of hits. Our favourite place, called the Gourmet Pub, had cauliflower mashed as an option for the side with a meat dish. Bill had the short ribs and I had the sea bass. The cauliflower mashed was amazing! It was full of butter, which made the texture and the flavour to die for. We went back to that restaurant twice.
Dietary Restrictions at Mexican Resorts
So, it wasn’t clear sailing for communicating our wants and needs at the resort. They had no idea in Mexico about low carb diets. We finally learned to say that we were sensitive to gluten and sugar. This led to one server bringing me gluten-free bread made from chickpeas. It was full of carbs, I’m sure, but it was so nice of him to go out of his way to get it for me without asking, I ate a good portion of it. Where it wasn’t a health risk for me, it seemed easier than trying to explain.
The language barrier was an issue at times. That’s not their fault – I’m going to their country without speaking their language. That’s my issue. It’s something I’m working on for the next time we go. Because, we will be going again!
Tips for Eating Keto at Resorts
Do a bit of research before you go. Like I said, menus do change, but usually the type of food they serve will remain constant. You will get a feel for what you can adjust to make it keto friendly.
Know some Spanish. It makes it so much easier for you and your server. They are there to make your holiday memorable and get you what you want. Being keto makes ordering at restaurants hard at the best of times. Add in a language barrier, and it’s even harder. I’m working on this for next time.
Don’t forget about drinks! We emailed ahead to see what our beer options were. That gave us time to do some research and know what was our best low-carb option. It made it easy to get there and have a drink even before we got to our room!
Enjoy yourself. Bill was feeling badly that I couldn’t have the desserts or the tropical frozen drinks. I had to remind him that I don’t like sweet tastes anymore. I was happy with the occasional berries as dessert. And, turns out, I’m a beer girl now!
Wendy
