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:
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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.
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stir-fried chicken and vegetables with quinoa |
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. ;)