Let’s just be clear about something: when you go on vacation, it’s important to relax and enjoy yourself. It’s even more important to make sure you get to splurge a little bit and savour your favourite not-so-healthy foods, but do it responsibly so when you get back home and step on the scale again, you haven’t undone all your hard work.

Follow these five steps when you go on vacation and you should be golden!

If you don't eat All-Dressed Potato Chips at home, then don’t eat them on vacation.

There’s NOTHING special about average junk food you can get at any grocery store. Forget the giant bag of M&M’s, and don’t even think about stale boxed caramel corn.

However, if you’re in Nova Scotia or Maine and they have fresh caught lobster on the menu, get it! And dip it in the butter! If you’re going to Mexico, go ahead and have the chips with salsa or fresh-made guacamole. And don’t you dare leave the Caribbean without enjoying a few conch fritters! YUM! Whatever it is, make it a truly memorable indulgence, don’t just indulge for the sake of it.

Let’s not forget your fruits and vegetables. Just because you’re indulging doesn’t mean that you get to throw out all the goodness: the indulgences go on top of your healthy eating plan. You can especially take advantage of all of the ripe delicious fruits if you’re on a tropical vacation. Mango, anyone? When I’m on vacation, I typically only eat 2 meals a day – brunch and dinner. I have a tendency of becoming bored sitting in restaurants meal after meal.

For my first meal I try to make healthier choices like avocado, fresh fruit, oatmeal with nuts and seeds, a great salad loaded with grilled chicken and salsa on top or eggs, and then I don’t mind having a more indulgent dinner. Whatever I choose to do, I make sure that I commit to healthier options first. And if I’m visiting somewhere that has delicious and unique cuisine, I am definitely testing it out!

Don’t skip your exercise. You’re on vacation... that means the “I don’t have time” excuse does not apply! Wherever you are, 30 minutes of walking or kayaking or swimming or eve dancing will boost your energy levels and keep you feeling great.

Rent some bikes, go for a hike, play some tennis or frisbee, grab a kayak, go to a drop-in yoga class, or dance the night away. When you think about it, 30 minutes is just 1/48 of your day. That’s a pretty small fraction for the great benefit you’ll feel when you do it.

If you’re used to making a protein shake for breakfast or eating a protein bar in the afternoon as a snack, take those with you. This eliminates the possibility of totally going off the deep end at a single meal.

Whenever I go on vacation, I try to do some very basic prepping and the extent of the prepping depends on whether or not a plane or a car is involved. Upon arrival, one of the first things I do is scope out the nearest grocery store or market and stock up on fresh fruit. If I’m staying in a standard hotel room, I always request a blender (doesn't hurt to ask), and if there’s a buffet breakfast, I grab fruit for the room when I want a snack later in the day. Whenever possible I will take my mini blender with me so that I can enjoy my chocolate mint smoothie for breakfast. I take a chocolate protein powder with me because it’s one of my favorite things to eat, and my simplified version for vacations is delish: mix protein powder with a few drops of peppermint, add some hemp hearts and some almond milk, blend, and I’m good to go. Then all I need is an egg and a green tea and I’ve got a perfectly healthy breakfast loaded with sustainable, useable energy.

A Piña Colada or Cadillac Margarita or any other colorful drink with an umbrella sounds great – but could be in excess of 500 calories! Know what you’re drinking and work it into your plan. A light beer, a glass of wine, a vodka soda or tequila on the rocks would be a much better choice, calorically speaking. If you decide to enjoy a colorful umbrella drink as your indulgence, savour every sip! But don’t have seven of them during the week.

7 drinks x 500 calories each = 3500 calories = 1 lb of fat which could end up on your body! YIKES!!!

When you go on vacation, enjoy yourself the smart way and you’ll come back only a couple pounds heavier rather than five or six pounds heavier or maybe you’ll break even!

I usually have my thermos with me wherever I go so that I can sip on my water all day long and if I’m having a few drinks in the afternoon, I try to make sure I drink extra water before, during and after.

Most importantly, remember that the best way to stay on track is to recommit to yourself, no questions asked, immediately upon arrival home. Do not wait!

Happy travels – and remember to EAT well, MOVE more & find JOY!

Same rules apply!

Enjoy some planned indulgences around your healthy eating habits.

Now, enjoy that time off and check out these Summer-licious pool-side worthy recipes:

To a large pitcher add and let steep for 30 minutes:

4 cups of filtered water, just off the boil

7 bags of Hibiscus tea

1 mint tea bag

Add:

¼ cup fresh mint leaves

1/8 cup raw honey OR pure maple syrup

Fresh berries for garnish

Ice (optional)

To 2 glasses divide:

1 cup raspberries, crushed

¼ cup fresh mint leaves, muddled

Juice and zest of 1 lime

½ cup unsweetened pomegranate, cranberry or cherry juice

2 shots rum (optional)

1 cup Water Kefir or Kombucha or Carbonated Water

Ice (optional)

Feeling sluggish? Struggling with brain fog and fatigue? Frustrated with gas and bloating? Maybe you are dealing with stubborn belly fat or wonky hormones and you want some new strategies?

Email me at:

NutriHelpers.info@gmail.com

I'm Margaret, the Busy Broad's Health Coach.

Come join my community of likeminded women determined to regain energy and balance. No one wants to just survive. We want to REVIVE & THRIVE!!

Come learn how I did it!