If your vacation itinerary includes eating out for most of your meals, you need to plan carefully. If your vacation involves staying in a beach house or cabin, you can have much better control over meals. The family and guests need to share the kitchen chores, so mom can enjoy her vacation also. Have a meal-planning discussion, decide how often you will eat out, and then head to the grocery store to stock up. As long as you have healthy options to balance the less healthy choices, everyone should be satisfied.
Camping can offer more challenges, since the food is selected for convenience and storage.
Here again, you still could buy lower-fat hot dogs, turkey bacon and hamburgers, pretzels instead of chips, and dried fruit in addition to candy. Alcohol is also a big part of vacation for many people. It certainly can pack on the calories and increase the appetite. Try to balance this indulgence with a more active day. Consider having a noncaloric beverage between each beer or drink to pace yourself.