What I Eat as a PT on Holiday – Gran Canaria Edition

When people hear I’m a personal trainer, they often assume I spend my holidays eating grilled chicken, tracking macros, and skipping dessert. Let me set the record straight – holidays are for balance, not restriction – and I absolutely eat the dessert.

I recently spent a gorgeous fortnight in Gran Canaria, staying in a beautiful hotel with a half-board set-up (breakfast and dinner included). It was the perfect mix of luxury, relaxation, and not having to think too hard about food. Here’s how I approach eating while away, keeping things healthy-ish, enjoyable, and totally guilt-free.

Breakfast – My Favourite Meal of the Day

The hotel buffet? A dream. I always started my day with a good protein base, so I didn’t crash an hour later. My go-to plate looked something like this:

Scrambled or boiled eggs
A slice or two of wholemeal or rye bread
Grilled tomatoes or sautéed mushrooms
Fresh fruit – usually watermelon, pink grapefruit and/or kiwi
A small bowl of cornflakes topped with lots of seeds and nuts

Of course, a coffee (or two) was essential, enjoyed slowly on the terrace while soaking up the sun. Bliss.

Lunch – Light, Fresh & Flexible

Since we were half board, lunch was up to me – and I loved the freedom. Whether I was lounging by the pool or out exploring, I kept it simple as I knew I had a huge choice of food in the evening:

Grilled fish or chicken wrap with salad
Or a local dish like Canarian potatoes (papas arrugadas) with mojo sauce, and a side of grilled veggies
If I wanted something lighter, I’d have a large salad with either chicken or tuna
Salt baked seabass (my absolute favourite) – we had this one lunchtime in a lovely restaurant overlooking the sea, after a long walk on the beach.

I always aimed for a mix of protein, fibre, and colour, but there were a couple of days where I really fancied a toasted sandwich by the pool so that’s what I had. Food is part of looking after your wellbeing – fuel and soul!

Dinner – Balance, Not Deprivation

Evenings were a proper treat. The hotel’s buffet had so many options, it was easy to build a balanced plate without feeling restricted, although if you take a little bit of everything, it only counts as one plate… right? 😊

I usually started with a salad(there was always loads of different salad ingredients as well as fresh veg, oils, vinegars, seeds and seasonings to mix it up), then most evenings I’d go for:

Grilled meat or fish – swordfish, local fish, chicken or turkey breast, or prawns
A small portion of carbs – usually rice or pasta (just my personal choice)
Loads of veggies – beans, broccoli, courgettes, peppers, carrots, red onion , avocado and butternut squash

There were a few evenings where I fancied something different (once I’d seen it lol!) so I had chicken tikka masala, mushroom risotto and sweet and sour chicken (although I have to say it was good, but not as good as Jonny’s 😊)

…And yes, I always checked the dessert table. I didn’t always have dessert as some nights I just didn’t fancy any or I was full from my dinner, and it’s still important to recognise the signals that tell you you’re full, even on holiday. One night I told myself I’d ‘just look’ at the dessert table. Ten minutes later, I was making eye contact with the most gorgeous apple strudel (guilty pleasure) and honestly, not having a slice would’ve been a crime. They also made the most amazing light mousse in fab flavours, so I did partake of a few of those too.

Snacks & Drinks – Keep It Real

I’ll be honest, I didn’t tend to snack that much – remember I wasn’t doing much so I wasn’t as hungry as I am at home. If I did snack, I’d grab an apple or a plum (which were huge). I also had a couple of ice-creams whilst we were out and yes, we bought two packets of the obligatory crisps and shared those over a few days!

Drinks-wise, I stuck mostly to water during the day, and on a couple of nights I had a glass or two of wine or we shared a jug of sangria. I did enjoy a few cocktails whilst we were out and about! I don’t tend to drink much at home anyway, so this was more than enough for me. Again, it’s all about balance -not rules.

The Bottom Line: Move, Eat, Enjoy

Even on holiday, I stayed active – I went to the gym every day (because I genuinely enjoy it) and did a 30-minute workout using a combination of free weights and machines. I even had people asking me to help them in the gym which was lovely 😊 I swam lengths in the pool every day too and we walked an average of 12000-15000 steps on the days that we went out.

Being a PT doesn’t mean being perfect. It means knowing how to fuel your body, enjoy your food, and not stress about it when you’re on holiday. I didn’t count a single calorie. I ate when I was hungry, chose foods that made me feel good, and didn’t overthink a thing. I also didn’t eat to the point of feeling stuffed just because I was on holiday and the food was there – I had just enough to feel satisfied and enjoy myself.

And honestly? As well as being the same weight as I was before I went on holiday, I came back feeling refreshed, not restricted – which is exactly how it should be. Yes, I’m a PT. No, I don’t pack protein powder in my suitcase – there’s only room for bikinis and snacks lol.

Gran Canaria served up sunshine, sangria, and some questionable dance moves after dinner – I regret nothing 😊

Much Love

Caroline & Hannah xx