Nourish Your Soul

I recently went on a girls trip to celebrate our collective 40th birthdays.  As we turn 40 this year, it seemed right that we honor nearly 30 years of friendship with a big trip to the Cayman islands.  Upon arrival, I was struck with the beauty of the island, the water, the sand and I could not wait to spend a few days in that tropical paradise. 

I was especially excited to try out all of the restaurants and take a break from cooking!   My friends are a mix of gluten free, vegan, and dairy free and the island beautifully accommodated every allergy and preference at each restaurant.  Contrary to my friends, I am a meat and potatoes kind of gal who constantly has to resist the urge to eat meat at every meal.  When my friends suggested we try out a vegan restaurant, I will admit I was hesitant. I was initially thinking this vacation would be a time to indulge with both food and drink and I could detox when I got home.  It never crossed my mind to think of this trip as a time to treat my body right and nourish it with all of the things my body had been missing over the holiday season such as - rest, exercise, and healthy foods.  As a mom to 3 young children, it is no surprise that I often neglect my own needs.  

We are seeing that wellness vacations are currently on the rise and a very popular new trend. From multi generational retreats for the entire family at Canyon Ranch in Massachusetts, to exotic Blue Zone retreats in Costa Rica, to biohacking packed resorts in Hawaii equipped with Vitamin C IV infusions. Hilton’s 2023 trends report showed that people are defining travel as an essential part of their wellness routines and journey.  While many of us might not have access to these five star wellness retreats, we all have the control over what we choose to eat on vacation and what we do with our bodies to restore our rest and relaxation.  I will add the caveat that we have WAY more control over this on vacations without our children.  However, with or without kids, we can make the decision of whether or not we want to eat foods that are nourishing or foods that are not the best for our bodies. 

Sitting down at the Vegan cafe, I was so skeptical I could find something that I would be interested in given I was starving and ready for a big meal.  I ordered the pad thai salad, gluten free avocado toast and an iced coffee. The salad was not only beautiful but hands down the most delicious salad I have had in my life.  Full of mint, peanuts, green onion, mint, zucchini, carrots and red pepper,it was incredibly filling and full of flavor. 

I always say that one good decision leads to the next.  In this case, I felt so good after this brunch that instead of cracking up a corona and laying on the beach, I decided to go for a run.  Instead of later snacking on cheese and crackers, I was so inspired I made a salad with hummus toast back at our condo.  This one salad helped me alter my entire point of view on what this vacation could be for me.  Instead of thinking I deserved to indulge in any foods I wanted,I thought of something more radical and new - I deserved to be good to my body and feel my best at this exotic paradise.  

In this month of February, we are going to explore with you ways to Nourish your soul through different foods and diets.  We are going to delve into new diet trends, their benefits, and how you can incorporate them into your daily life. We can’t wait to share with you all the ways you can achieve your wellness goals through diet!