Keeping It Healthy on Vacation

It seemed like such a long winter! I finally finished my classes in March and am now officially a Master Herbalist.  Additionally, my husband studied like crazy and passed both of his certification exams for work.  We both really needed to take a vacation, so we did just that a couple of weeks ago.

I have to say there is nothing like being at the beach! It's great to get away for some sun, fun and relaxation.  However, overindulging in unhealthy food and beverages, staying up late, lying around like a couch potato all week or getting sunburned can really make you feel sluggish and unhealthy, especially after you return home.  Here are some tips for staying on track:

1.  Eat Healthy.

We enjoy dining out while we are on vacation and especially like seafood. However, we try to limit eating out to only a couple of times while we're there. In order to do that, we always make sure our vacation rental has a full kitchen, so we can prepare our meals there the rest of the time. We eat organic and include lots of vegetables, especially leafy greens, as well as fresh fruit, in our daily diet.

stir-fried chicken and vegetables with quinoa

Protein is also important, so we add chicken,  grass-fed beef  or fish to the mix, along with healthy gluten-free grains in moderation, such as quinoa and brown rice,  Incorporating healthy fats into every meal, such as nuts, avocados and salmon, is always a good choice. I also pack a smoothie blender for morning protein shakes made with fresh fruit, coconut milk and include powdered collagen.

In addition to the obvious health benefits, eating in is also easy on the wallet.





2.  Keep Moving.

There's nothing like a long stroll on the beach. We make it a point to do this every day while on vacation. We also try to get in some swimming, either in the pool or the ocean.


Yoga is another essential daily vacation activity. I make sure to pack my mat and a few good yoga DVD's when we travel.  My favorites are from the series Namaste Yoga.

3. Avoid getting a sunburn.

20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure is good for a daily dose of Vitamin D.  However, any longer than that increases the risk for skin cancer.  We avoid chemical sunscreens and instead use products containing zinc oxide, such as Beauty by Earth's Mineral Sunscreen.  It has an SPF 25 and is nontoxic.


4. Maintain a consistent sleep/wake pattern.

We're typically early-to-bed, early-to-rise people when we're home.  We try to keep the same hours while on vacation.  It just makes for an easy transition back to reality when we return home.  Additionally, not getting enough rest while on vacation make me grumpy, which certainly detracts from our vacation enjoyment. I am sure my husband would agree. ;)