Tips for Tourists: The Struggle to Eat Healthy while in Cebu
Cebuanos, like most Filipinos, love salty, spicy, fatty, oily, high-cholesterol dishes and very sweet snacks and desserts. That is why some tourists complain how most Cebuano foods are too rich, too fatty or too sweet – but never bland, mind you.Pork barbecue. Sinful.
Crispy pork. Even more sinful.
Garlic Kangkong
So how do eat healthy while you are in Cebu?
For starters, Cebu already has a lot of “healthy” restaurants popping up. Some serve only salads while some serve exclusively low-calorie foods.
When ordering fresh fruit juices or shakes, remember to tell them not to add sugar. By default, they will add sugar – unless you tell them not to. For a truly healthy drink, opt for fresh coconut juice.
We have sugar-free ice cream now. Yes, there are sugar-free ice cream available in the supermarkets. Frozen yogurt is not that popular in Cebu, but there are a handful of froyo shops in the island.
When dining in most restaurants, remember that they do have vegetarian options. Although the succulent pork rind is tempting, flip through the menu until you find their vegetable spread.
Try fresh lumpia. It is a much healthier alternative to fried lumpia (spring roll).
There are a lot of Japanese and Korean restaurants within Cebu City that offer healthier dining options.
If you prefer to eat fresh seafood, go to Lapu-lapu City. There, they have rows of eateries that sell fresh seafood. You choose the seafood and they cook it the way you prefer – with vegetables, less salt or no seasoning. Just let them know!
Baked oysters -- just ask them not to add butter.
Click here to read about keeping fit while on your Cebu vacation.