Food expert warns Brits to avoid pastries from the holiday breakfast buffet

Thousands of us are heading off on our summer holidays over the next few months flying everywhere from Spain to Turkey and Portugal. One of the best parts of an all-inclusive option is the many plates of food you can scarf down.

Whether you love stuffing your face with a Full English breakfast or prefer to nibble all day from the snack bars and ice cream stands there’s plenty to go around. But, one downside to the rows and rows of tasty buffet items is the fact that many of us gain a few pounds after a holiday.

Now, there’s nothing too wrong with that – it’s totally normal and nothing a few weeks of healthy eating and exercise won’t remedy if you’re bothered by it. But, anyone who’s worked super hard to feel svelte in their swimwear may wish to avoid the post-holiday pudge.

READ MORE: 'I tried Portugal's epic 'fry up sandwich' – the equivalent to eating three pizzas'

One way to do that is by avoiding certain things at the buffet, says a food expert. Michael Mosley spoke to the Daily Record to explain which six foods you should avoid.

He commented: "When staying at an all-inclusive hotel, the temptation to fill your plate up to the brim can be difficult to steer away from. However, there are certain foods you can enjoy healthily, and others you need to avoid."

According to Michael, food-conscious Brits should lean away from "fruit juices, pastries, cereals, muffins and cake, dried fruits, hash browns". While they’re all very tasty these yummy sides are all packed full of calories you might not expect.

Croissants, for example, contain between 231 and 500 calories per serving, reports Healthline. That’s before adding extra butter and jam!

Meanwhile, fruit juices may seem like a healthy drink – and they are in moderation. But, they’re also quite sugary and may add to your daily intake without you noticing.

Thankfully, Michael says there are plenty of foods that you can enjoy at the buffet while watching your waistline.

Michael says these include: eggs, omelettes, greek yoghurt with berries, vegetables, cheese, nuts and avocado. Though, as always, portion control is key.

Foods that can be enjoyed occasionally include bread – though Michael says to opt for sourdough or rye rather than white – sausages, bacon and local treats. After all, there’s no point going abroad and skipping the unusual delicacies you find there.

Although we would advice you keep and eye out for healthy options. One writer recently discovered that Portugal has a sandwich with between 1,500 and 2,500 calories per dish.

The Portuguese speciality is made with white sandwich bread, stuffed with cured ham, sausages, roast meat, linguiça (a smoked sausage) and an entire steak.

The absolute meat feast sarnie is then covered in melted mild cheese, a fried egg and slathered in a bright orange tomato and beer sauce.

For context, the NHS website says that generally, the recommended daily calorie intake is 2,000 calories a day for women and 2,500 for men. Seek advice from your GP if you are worried about your weight.

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