How to Eat Healthy in Vegas (While Still Enjoying Yourself!)

It dawned on me last week that just as I had cleared my body of the holiday sugar cravings, I was about to head to Vegas for 5 days…not a city that makes me think of healthy eating.

I wasn’t ready to give up my daily green smoothie habit, BUT I’m always up for adventure and have turned finding food that makes me feel great in to it’s own travel adventure.

How to Eat Healthy in Vegas

Happily, I enjoyed LOTS of vegetables and kept my calories in check. But I also indulged daily in some pretty good sized sweets.

Just being honest, I let some emotional eating rev up my sweet tooth and I enjoyed sweet potato fries and a rice krispie the size of my face.

But it wouldn’t have been that hard to eat quality whole foods all the time either. Eating Healthy in Las Vegas - tips and restaurant ideas

Pack Your Own Options

Step one to clean eating in Las Vegas: packing great healthy options. My suitcase frequently looks like a mini grocery store and I’m ok with that

Protein packets to mix with water (perfect after a workout or first thing in the AM)
Vega One bars and Larabar ALT {pea protein bar is less of a sugar shock than normal Larabars}
Perky Jerky Turkey {Hormone free, quality meat!!}
Apples {Bring a shaker cup for protein and put them inside for safe travels}
Oatmeal {Gluten free oats, ground flax seeds and pumpkin seeds mixed in a baggie}
Hot Tea – Great at night to wind down or in the am to help with cravings
Peppermints

I ensured that 8 hours of travel wouldn’t mean relying on airport food by packing lunch: sweet potato, cauliflower, avocado, black beans, hummus in a container saved from D’s lunch meat.

Read my updated healthy travel snack tips >>

Finding Health Food in Vegas

Not wanting to rely on bars for the entire trip, I need whole food nutrients, I started scouting the area and considering what might work.

Following are some of the best options at different hotels along the strip.

Each option also provides general menu features to find healthy options at other similar fare restaurants.

Breakfast Anywhere

Vegetable omelet is an option almost anywhere! This is a great protein source start to the day that will keep you full, get you started with some veggies and help keep you away from all the offered treats before lunch.

Another option is smoked salmon and fresh fruit {skip the cream cheese and bagel to go with it if you know you’ll be sitting in a conference all day}.

Rio

The Sports Deli had an amazing Chinese Chicken Salad for just $10 – it actually has sprouts, snap peas, broccoli etc. Just try to go light on any dressing with a salad like this as it’s often high in sugar.

Mirage

Looking for your plant based or vegan options? Here are a few of the delicious one’s I discovered.

BLT Burger has a Veggie Falafel burger and a large Vegetable Salad with vinaigrette – have the falafel as the protein on that salad and you’ll be getting in a ton of fresh veggies, plus protein.

Bellagio

Yellow Tail {or any Japanese restaurant} is going to provide you with easy options for high protein and low on processed foods.

Seaweed, miso, salmon roll {try to skip the tempura, especially if looking for gluten free}. You can absolutely add some brown rice to this meal to round it out and fuel up a run!

Planet Hollywood

Gordon Ramsey Burger – I wish since he is a health conscious person there were more recommendations here, but alas the Earth Burger {no meat just portobello mushroom} without cheese is a great protein option with hummus and veggie sticks.

It’s also a place you’ve seen around the United States, so sometimes when you want something familiar or a go to that requires little though in other places, this will do.

Wynn

A variety of Vegan options are available here, which to me largely means VEGETABLES.

The Allegro offers a variety of great salads which can be clean by asking for just one or two substitutions, i.e. removing the fried egg on the Grilled Chicken, Radicchio & Escarole Salad.

Aria

Julian Serrano is a tapas place which means putting to the test your ability to gauge food when it’s coming out in small portions shared by the table.

However, there are a lot of great options from asparagus to ceviche. {Skip the cheese platters or fried calamari.}

I opted for the kale and beet salad, asparagus, and some seafood paella.

Jamba Juice

Under normal circumstances I steer clear of these places because there’s usually more juice than smoothie in the drink.

But if opting for the Green’s n Apples with Spirulina added is at least getting some real fruit in your belly {Green Vegetable Juice Blend (Carrots, Spinach, Bell Pepper, Kale, Spirulina, Lettuce), Peaches, Mangos, Bananas, Ice}.

I purchased the medium then added my Vega Protein powder to stay satisfied for hours.

Grilled Chicken

We really can’t talk about eating out without mentioning this food superstar right? It’s packed with protein and super easy to find at nearly all restaurants.

You just want to ensure it’s not coated in butter or fried. Opt for grilled and yes you CAN ASK to have your veggies steamed or your salad dressing on the side. It’s your body, your health, they will accommodate.

Another recommendation which has received good and bad reviews {I didn’t get to try it} is Red Velvet Café at the Fashion Mall on the strip.