Katie Rhodes coaches us on how to be mindful while we're away—without killing the fun.

If you're like us, then all the consciousness about being good to yourself and your body comes before vacation.  And then, when we actually start the vacay, it kind of goes all summer blurry—at least when it comes to the way we treat our bodies  and diets. But what if we actually wanted to maintain our wellbeing while on vacation? We reached out to our expert on call and our new nutritional advisor - Katie Rhodes Smith MS, RDN, CSSD, LD, founder of OWN-Nutrition.

Here are her tips on how to get the most out of your vacation:

1. Do not skip snacks in between meals.

Not only do healthy and balanced snacks help regulate your blood sugar, snacks curb the urge to consume unhealthy options and overeat at main meals.

Some of our favorite snacks on the go: fruit, nuts, veggies with hummus, jicama with guacamole.

2. Always eat breakfast.

Starting your day off with a well-balanced breakfast kick starts your metabolism for the day on the right foot and sets the tone for the day mentally. It can be as easy as eggs with avocado and toast or quick oatmeal with nuts. 

3. Meet your water goal.
Hunger and thirst signals can overlap in our brains. If you are hydrated you will less likely overeat and gauge your hunger level.
We love this refillable motivational water bottle:

Buy here.

4. Have you heard of the 20/20/20 rule?
To help control consumption at meals to respect what your body’s needs, consume 20 ounces of water 20 minutes before a main meal to allow your brain to gauge your hunger level to match your needs. Then, take 20 minutes to consume your meal to allow time for your digestive tract to communicate with your brain if you need more fuel or if you are happy and satisfied.

5. Enjoy your vacation!
If you follow a few tips, this will keep you feeling in control and allow you to enjoy your much needed time to yourself or with your loved ones.