I recently returned from a magical vacation in Europe. Brian and I were celebrating our 20th (no kids!). With just a backpack full of clothes, we explored London, Paris, Switzerland, and Northern Italy. We felt like two college kids living it up.✨
Confession time… The nutritionist in me went on vacation too. We indulged in croissants, cappuccinos, pizza, gelato, pasta, cheese and of course, fresh bread, bread, bread. Do I regret it? No way!
I want to share how my food indulgences were NOT “cheating” or self-sabotage. Instead, I want you to understand how vacation treats are needed for our body and soul when done the right way.
First of all, you need to mentally prepare yourself for vacation. We all know it’s impossible to stick with a strict diet plan when traveling so it’s essential to let go of any high expectations. Check out my 3-prong approach to prep yourself for a healthy and balanced vacation.
During my vacay, I was ready and excited to try new foods and indulge but here’s the thing… in moderation. Brian and I wanted to explore as many cute cafes as possible. There were so many amazing menu options that we wanted to try. SO… Basically, Brian and I split everything. It allowed us to taste test it all in moderation. And we felt energized with small frequent meals and we never felt overfull.
Yep, even the gelato. In America, our ice cream cones are HUGE. In Europe, a scoop of gelato is actually just a scoop. And Brian and I both agreed that splitting is key – we only need a few bites to indulge our taste buds and feel satisfied.
At home, Brian and I are mostly gluten free and I try to keep our diet clean (low sugar, little processed foods, light in dairy) so we were a little nervous about how we’d feel on vacation.
I always heard that bread and dairy in Europe are less processed and better digested. With this info, Brian and I decided to test it out for ourselves. Instead of being “all in – vacation mode” and mindlessly eating, we took a mindful approach. We ate crusty bread and croissants but we paid attention to how it felt in our bodies (and it felt gooood).
And I have to admit that our backpacks were not just filled with clothes.
I came prepared with healthy bars and trail mix baggies. They came in handy during our long flights and train rides.
My friends, I hope you now see that you can have it all (you can go on vacay, have fun, indulge, and still be somewhat “healthy”).
But the biggest deal breaker is that you come home to healthy routines that support your metabolism and health.
Because if you feel out of control with your nutrition, your daily routines and your stress levels, then it’s going to feel impossible to get back on track after vacation.
The good news is that we are here to help and support you.
If you like my realistic (non-diet) approach to nutrition and you are ready to gain control of your cravings, daily habits and health, then Setup your free phone consultation.
What you should do next …
✅ Register for my Nutrition Class: 3 Realistic Solutions to Rev Your Metabolism so you can Drop Weight Naturally Without Deprivation. And after class, you will receive a gift (My Favorite Balanced Breakfast Recipe Book). I recommend you register early; spaces are limited!
✅ Sign-up for my 3-Day Eating Reset: Tame your sugar cravings without feeling deprived. You will receive my step-by-step guide to stabilize your blood sugar with a done-for-you menu plan, simple recipes, and shopping list.
✅ Schedule a FREE Metabolism Mastery Call: This is a no pressure phone conversation with our health coaches. Let’s dive into your specific challenges and goals to figure out what next steps are best for you.
About the Author
Hello, I’m Betsy Markle. I’m a Registered Dietitian and Holistic Nutritionist with over 20 years of experience. Living a busy life with 3 kids and a passionate career, I understand the importance of realistic nutrition, exercise, and balanced living.
Women tend to put the needs of everyone else before their own. My passion is to empower women to create a healthy lifestyle that they love and can stick with forever.
Here at Sunshine Wellness, we are proud to help women lose weight effortlessly, overcome cravings, and revive energy so they can heal their metabolism, ditch the diet mentality, and love their bodies.
