What's on the Menu on Vacation?

While exploring the area down in North Carolina, I have also been exploring the specific trends of grocery stores, restaurants, and the typical cuisine of beachgoers. I never imagined partaking in research that involved studying the layout of a grocery store or the foods people pack in their coolers, but here we are...

As far as grocery stores, they seem to offer a diverse array of fresh produce-anything from mangoes and watermelon to brussel sprouts and okra, which is great to see. Apparently, many travelers like to stay up on their fruit/veggie intake! Although the produce is not always cheap, many of the grocery store chains offer free-to-join loyalty programs which give discounts on many of the products. Interestingly, I also noticed that many packaged desserts were placed very near the main entrance of the stores; this was a little different than what I am used to in PA. Perhaps this is done to attract the many vacationers who stop in to the store for some quick (and tempting) options.

Some amazing nachos I got!

There are a ton of great restaurants in the area, and the diversity within the cuisine is magnificent. From the restaurant menus I've observed, the cuisine options range from more modern picks such as poke and acai bowls to more traditional options such as Mexican food, ice cream, and steaks. I was able to try a Mexican/American restaurant which was great! There were healthier options such as fish tacos, salads, black-bean based burgers, and chicken dishes on the menu, but the menu was also full of nachos and even some burgers and chili fries. I also stopped at a local ice cream shop (which was, of course, packed with people), but the portion sizes were very reasonable, and from what the professionals have been saying, it is certainly fine to enjoy a sweet treat sometimes!

While exploring on the beach, it seemed that people were trying to stick to easy-to-pack options. Some people seemed to bring take-out items from places such as pizza shops, but it was still evident that healthy foods were priorities even while travelling: I noticed snack size containers of hummus as well as produce items like apples and chopped cucumbers. Since cooking is probably not the top priority while on vacation, timesaving items seem to be the norm.

What has been most inspiring to me is the fact that going on vacation is not necessarily synonymous with forgetting about nutritious eating. I love the balance of options available here, and I love that many people seem to enjoy this balance. Yes, eating veggies on the beach feels refreshing, but so does that overpriced, ever-too-rapidly melting, mega-sized ice cream cone from the corner shop.

What foods do you guys eat while traveling? Comment below, and don't be ashamed!