Finding Balance – A Year in Review
Sprinkles of Sand is celebrating our first year anniversary. As part of this joyous event, we thought is would be nice to do a summary of all the articles posted as part of our “Finding Balance” category.
Like us, many of you are continuously seeking ways to find balance in our daily lives. Being a cornerstone of this lifestyle blog, we have many things planned to help us better find that balance and enjoyment to our lives. In the coming months, look for new topics such as Meditation and Mindfulness.
Finding Balance – A Year in Review:
Financial Freedom:
– Get Your Finances Ready for 2017!
– Top 5 Ways to Control Holiday Spending
– 10 Simple Money Saving Tips
Food (Comfort Foods):
– Butternut Cake
– White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
– Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
– Chocolate Chip Cookies
– Toasted Coconut Macaroons
– Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
– Hearty Beef Stew
– Classic Sloppy Joe’s
– Cucumber Salad
– Old Fashioned Potato Salad
– Melon Chi Chi
Preparedness:
– Preparing for Power Outages
– Surviving in a Shelter during an Emergency
– Preparing your Pets to Evacuate in an Emergency
– Emergency Planning – Should I Stay or Should I Go?
– Emergency Preparedness – Sheltering in Place
– Emergency Preparedness – Alerts & Warnings
Relaxation:
– Embracing Hibernation Season
– Burn a Bayberry Candle on New Year’s Eve
– Plan a Stay at Home New Year’s Eve
– Mystical Walk in the Woods
– Gratitude Mantra #1
– Gratitude Mantra #2
– Gratitude Mantra #3
– Gratitude Mantra #4
– Go on a Picnic
– Picnic by the Ocean
– Picnic at the Lake
– Picnic by the River
– Picnic in the Woods
– Reflections
– Introduction to Beach Week
– Beach Week – Day 1: A Walk on the Beach
– Beach Week – Day 2: A Trip to the Boardwalk
– Beach Week – Day 3: A day at the Beach
– Beach Week – Day 4: Sand castles & Seashells
– Epsom Salt Baths & How it can Improve Your Health
– Stargazing
– Reflections for Stress Awareness
– 10 Relaxation Techniques
Wellness:
– Sleep – The Best Medicine
– 15 Tips for being Happy & Healthy in the New Year
– Gratitude Mantra #1
– Gratitude Mantra #2
– Gratitude Mantra #3
– Gratitude Mantra #4
– 5 Essential Elements to consider when choosing an Essential Oil Diffuser
– Red Mountain Resort Wellness Retreat
Travel:
– 5 Tips for Eating & Healthy Travel
– Beach Week Introduction
– Beach Week – Day 1: A Walk on the Beach
– Beach Week – Day 2: A Trip to the Boardwalk
– Beach Week – Day 3: A day at the Beach
– Beach Week – Day 4: Sand castles & Seashells
– Red Mountain Resort Wellness Retreat
If there is anything of interest that you would like to see, please let us know!
5 Tips for Eating & Healthy Travel
When traveling it can be a challenge to eat and stay healthy. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, it always seems easier to eat on the go, grabbing a package of chips, soda or a candy bar when it is convenient. Routines are changed and it can be challenging to avoid temptation and stay focused. For those with dietary intolerances or restrictions, the challenge to be prepared becomes crucial.
1. Plan
The single best thing I do before departing for a trip is to plan. Whether traveling by car, train or plane, I ensure that I have snacks on hand with me at all times. If I am going somewhere I have not been to before, I try to check out what is available in the area such as stores, markets, or restaurants. It takes time to plan ahead, but in the end it is completely worth it. I suffer multiple dietary intolerances making it a necessity to ensure I have everything from snacks, meal replacements and breakfast options with me at all times. Home-style suite hotels or vacations rentals make it easy to keep routine while providing a means to comfortably prepare my own meals.
2. Pack Healthy Snacks
No matter where you are going and how you get there, having an arsenal of healthy, non-perishable snacks on hand can be the difference between processed food and a fresh alternative. Some of the snacks I bring or buy:
Apples
Bananas
Nuts, Seeds or Trail mix
Apple or Pear Chips
Cherries, pitted
Crackers
Mini container of Coconut Milk
Dry cereal (Gluten Free for me!)
Hard boiled eggs
Olive cups
3. Have a Picnic
Nothing says vacation like packing up a cooler or basket filled with delicious foods and relaxing on a blanket in a park, a lake, or a beach. Instead of hitting up a local restaurant, go to a grocery store and pick out what you would like to eat. It will be just like eating at home, but in a fun new setting and an opportunity to enjoy the beauty and the fun of the outdoors.
4. Pack and Prep for Remedies
It’s always the case when you are away that you wish you thought to bring this or that from home. Unfortunately, digestive issues, nausea, headaches, come down with a cold, cuts or scrapes, trouble sleeping, bug bites, sunburns, anti-histamines and the like always surface at the most inopportune times. I’ve learned to pack a small kit that includes remedies for the unexpected.
7. Don’t Stress
If you succumb to a not so healthy meal or treat, don’t fret! Enjoy it, but try not to binge either. If vacationing, this a time to relax and rejuvenate not making yourself crazy with counting calories or carbohydrates. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t adhere to your usual healthy regimen. Just try to make the best food choices you can and enjoy yourself!
Those with dietary restrictions and intolerances need to be very vigilant. This in itself can be extremely stressful. For some, it is a life and death issue, while for others expose results in reactions seen and/or unseen. Be prepared, plan, and have a remedy on hand. No one is more invested in your heath than you.
Do you have any tips for eating and healthy traveling?
Theresa