How to make it through a trip to Vegas in a somewhat healthy fashion

I've been a bit MIA the last week as I was in Vegas for four days and recovering for four more. No, but really. How can a place be so much fun but at the same time leave you feeling like you partied for a month straight? Lack of sleep, loss of money, booze overload, smokey lungs, unhealthy food...hmm maybe that's why? We all know Vegas is so much fun and that you do get a little beat up from not treating your bod with the love and tenderness it needs and deserves. However, there ARE a few ways to do Vegas in a somewhat healthy manner. Vegas and healthy in the same sentence seems a bit ironic, yes. But there are some things you can do to alleviate some of the damage. 

• When you first get there, go to the gift shop in the lobby of your hotel or even a liquor store (save a little dough). Stock up with tons of water, we're talking at least 8 big bottles. Vitamin/Life water does the trick as well. It sounds a bit over the top but trust me, you WILL end up not only drinking all of it but finding yourself extremely happy and relieved when you wake up at 4 a.m. dying for some H2O and realize you don't have to walk to the nearest vending machine to get some.
• Buy some healthy snacks for the room. I don't know about you but somehow I never end up eating that much in Vegas except for one or two nice dinners. It's really easy to spend the whole day at the pool and realize it's been six hours since you've eaten. It's so important to keep your metabolism going and to have a little something in your stomach to soak up the alcohol. Having snacks in the room allows you to have something to munch on between activities but not spending much money and not resorting to fast food. It's a win/win. My favorites are trail mix, nuts, a banana and KIND bars. There are so many different options when it comes to healthy bars, however, KIND is by far the best in my opinion. They are a natural, gluten free and non-GMO fruit and nut bar and they will knock your socks off. They have lots of different options but my favorite is Blueberry Vanilla and Cashew. Super delish. 
• Allow yourself to indulge a bit, especially if you go to a nice dinner. You don't want to spend a bunch of cash to taste the salad. However, make sure you don't go overboard with it. Just like anything else, moderation is key. Order a dessert but only have a few bites, don't finish the whole thing. Get the cheese plate for an app but don't clear the plate. I know it's hard when it's right in front of you but the more you get used to practicing moderation, the easier it will come and when you get there, you have the best of both worlds. I almost always order a salad before my meal and I've found I don't eat nearly as much. Salads don't have to be dreaded ya know! Change it up and order a salad you would normally never order. You'd be surprised :)
• Buffets. I'm sure everyone has eaten at a buffet in Vegas. They are cheap, convenient and you have unlimited options. However, buffets can be a deadly trap because you don't just order a meal and it's delivered to you. You can have as much as you want and more often than not end up consuming twice as much food. We ate at two buffets on this past trip and I found it was definitely hard for me to gauge my "I've had enough" level. One of the best things you can do is pace yourself. It sounds like a running term but it's very important. Eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your body to register as full. Stick to the salad bars, chicken (not fried!), fruit, omelets, granola/yogurt station and if you need a carb fix stick to wheat toast with peanut butter. I know it sounds way easier than it actually is, trust me. But if you can stick with it, you will be rushing out of there anxious to put your bathing suit on and get to the pool instead of needing a gurney to get you up to your room and dying for a nap. 
• Milk Thistle and Papaya Enzymes are a necessity for Vegas. I take these on a daily basis but it's muy importante for a Vegas-type trip. Milk thistle is your liver's best friend. It helps repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and prevents other toxins from entering the body. You take about 4-5 of these a day. Papaya Enzymes are digestive aids and help break down food in the belly, yes please! I take one after any heavy meal but it's great for overall digestive health as well. 
• When ordering drinks, especially by the pool, steer clear of the blended frozen drinks such as Pina Colada, Daquiri and all the sugar-loaded concoctions that are TERRIBLE for you. I have to admit I did have a Pina Colada, but not five of them ;) Stick with light beer, bloody mary or champagne with some juice. 
• NAP. I found that even a 30 min nap does absolute wonders for your mental state as well as helping you head out to that next casino when really all you want to do is sleep for a week. They are super effective and to me absolutely necessary. 

As we all know, Vegas is Vegas. It's not meant to be a place where you get in all your greens and sleep eight hours a night. It's a place to let loose and have some fun. So don't be discouraged that all the good you've done with your healthy routine will be thrown out the window the minute you get off that plane. It doesn't have to be that way. Just try and keep in mind a few of the tips I mentioned and you will be just fine :)

A few pics from my trip :)

 

*H2O, KIND bars n Milk Thistle*

*Champagne w/ splash of Grapefruit juice, perfect poolside cocktail*

*A ridiculously tasty beet salad at Scarpetta*

*Make-a-wish*

*Dessert selection...are you kidding?*

*Greg and I chillin at the pool*

*Papaya Enzymes*

*The most gorgeous tree ever at the glamorous Venetian*

Amazingly tasty KALE chips...say whaaat?!

Kale Kale Kale. Where do I begin? Kale and I have had what I would categorize as a "rocky" relationship. When I first heard about kale and the numerous health benefits associated with it, I thought hell yes, bring on the kale. I am all about staying informed and updated on the latest and greatest health research that comes out. I'm always learning and feel you can reach your highest potential of internal greatness by continuing to introduce your body to new glorious foods! So back to Kale, I started replacing my romaine/spinach leaves for this new vegetable and to be honest I wasn't very impressed. I wanted to like it SO bad but I really just wanted to regurgitate it back in the bowl. I mean I felt like I might as well take a stroll down to the park, take a huge bite out of the nearest bush or plant and start chewing. Now that may seem a bit dramatic, yes, but I really want you to understand how much I was NOT a fan of this leafy vegetable. 

However, just like pretty much everything else, I wanted to give it a chance. I realized that it was going to take some time to get used to kale and I thought why not add it to things so I'm not just eating it "straight" at least until I can allow myself to acquire a taste for it. I started adding it to my smoothies/juices which is an amazing way to reap the benefits and it's not such a harsh taste. I began to see various recipes for kale chips so I began to experiment on my own. I came up with this simple but tasty recipe you have got to try. It has the right amount of spice and crunch-perfect mix.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Grab a bunch of kale (wash first of course!) and break up into little pieces. Make sure it's completely dry and then add a little olive, some sea salt, as much fresh ground pepper as you desire, paprika (or red pepper flakes) and any other type of seasoning you like. I LOVE 21 Seasoning from Trader Joe's. It has everything you could possibly imagine in one bottle. You can use it on anything and everything not just the ole kale chips so I highly recommend it. I believe it's about $1.49 a bottle and worth every "sprinkle"...​

OK, lo siento I got sidetracked. A little trick I like to use when coating things with seasonings/oil is I like to put it in Tupperware, put the top on and shake it up. It's the best way to make sure everything is evenly coated with the goodness. Finally, lay it out on the parchment paper and bake for about 10-15 minutes. I try and grab these for a snack during the day instead of chips or crackers. Enjoy these crunchy delights! 

PS I am now a huge fan of Kale salads. It just took a little time to fully embrace this nutritious powerhouse.