Despite its fame as a city of sin and excesses, Las Vegas has lots of options when it comes to diet-friendly food. From hotel buffet to top restaurants, the choices available make it easy to stay on your diet while enjoying what the city has to offer.
Buffets abound in Las Vegas and, because of low prices, tend to be a popular choice for many. While many hotels and casinos offer their own buffets, there are a few in town that are especially healthy. The buffet at The Bellagio is a great option, since it offers a variety of foods, including Japanese, American, Italian and Chinese, as well as a large variety of seafood dishes. The Circus Circus Buffet offers lots of salads, fresh fruit and Italian specialties. The key to staying on your diet when eating at a buffet is to choose items that are not prepared in sauces, fried or breaded. Load up in veggies and use carbohydrates (such as rice or potatoes) as a complement, rather than the main dish.
Vegetarian restaurants are a great option for those who want to save calories but still eat comforting, satisfying food. Las Vegas has some great options, such as Veggie Delight (at the Chinatown complex) and Canyon Ranch Spa and Club (inside both The Venetian and The Palazzo hotels), where you can get pampered and eat healthy at the same time. Vegetarian restaurants are often full of options when it comes to salads, soups, main dishes and smoothies.
Organic restaurants abound, offering dieters a myriad of choices. Bradley Ogden's, at Caesars Palace, offers a pre-fix menu that includes artichoke soup, a signature caesar salad and Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut. Go Raw Cafe, which is not associated with any casino or hotel, offers organic food prepared without the use of oils or added fats. Menu options include soups, salads, wraps, sushi and starters, all of which are diet-friendly.
Wherever you end up eating, stay away from Chinese or Indian restaurants, which use lots of oils and sauces in their dishes. If eating at a restaurant, order dishes that are baked, broiled or grilled and avoid anything deep fried or sauteed. Use mustard and ketchup instead of mayonnaise. Cut down on cheese, cold meats and pork. Instead, opt for fish, chicken or turkey. At buffets, especially those offered in casinos and hotels, avoid egg rolls, pasta and French fries.
The number one thing to be aware of in Las Vegas is alcohol. Drinks are everywhere, from the casinos to the hotel's room service to the pre-show drink. Alcohol is high in calories and sometimes sugar but provides no nutrients. What's more, alcohol opens up the appetite and causes you to crave carbs, which in turn can make you eat more than you normally would. When hitting the bars, stay away from beer and highly-sweet cocktails. Instead, opt for red wine, hard alcohol like whiskey or vodka and lite beer or dry wine.
