HEATHY VEGETABLE TACOS

On Wednesdays, we eat tacos! These little shells of deliciousness are a staple in our household at moment. They’re so quick, so easy, so tasty and feel so naughty – just how I like it!

Healthy food is so much more than just a bowl of carrots and kale! Getting creative in the kitchen doesn’t have to be complicated or lengthy. These tacos take less time to prepare than a pizza does to cook! I hope y'all enjoy them as much as I do!

I've listed both vegetarian and vegan options below so have a little play. 

Ingredients: serves 2 - 3 people

6 x Taco shells
6 - 8 balls / chunks of mozzarella or vegan cheese
2 tbsp sauerkraut *see notes
1 large sweet potato – peeled and chopped into small chunks
1 large portobello mushroom - chopped
1 red bell pepper - chopped
1 onion – diced
1 can of tinned tomatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp mixed herbs
Salt and pepper to taste

Guacamole:

1 large avocado – peeled and destoned
2 tbsp natural Greek yogurt or vegan coconut yogurt
Salt and pepper
Juice of 1 lemon

Method:

Heat the oven to 190 degrees.

Place the peeled / chopped sweet potato in a pan of boiling water and boil for approx. 10 minutes, until soft.

In the meantime, place a little olive oil in a heated pan and add in the chopped onion, red pepper and mushrooms. Sprinkle in the mixed herbs, paprika, salt and pepper and lightly fry for approx. 7 minutes.

Once soft, drain the sweet potatoes and add into the pan along with the tinned tomatoes. Place on a low simmer for approx. 5 minutes.

Add the chopped mozzarella or vegan cheese into the pan and allow to melt – mix well.

Place the taco shells on a lined baking tray and oven for 1 - 2 minutes (until crisp) – be careful not to burn.

To prepare the Guacamole:

Place the peeled avo in a bowl and mash it with a folk. Add in the yogurt and lemon juice, sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix well.

Once ready to serve, fill the tacos to the brim with your filling, add a dollop of guacamole and a tbsp of sauerkraut to top - Enjoy

*For this recipe I used beetroot sauerkraut which you can pick up from your local health store, although any type will work. The recipe will work just fine without sauerkraut but it does give the dish an extra zing and it is full of so many amazing benefits so I try to incorporate it where I can. If you’re wondering what else to use it in, you can eat it with salads, add it to eggs on toast or I often just eat a spoonful a day before my evening meal as it’s full of amazing enzymes that’s helps breakdown food, absorb nutrients and is full of beneficial probiotics that is good for the gut.

5 WAYS TO BRING POSITIVITY TO YOUR MENTAL WELLBEING

Last month we saw World Mental Health Day take the world by storm with millions of people sharing stories and offering inspiration and support to others suffering with mental health issues. I think it’s amazing that we dedicate an entire day to bring awareness to our incredibly important mental wellbeing and it really inspired me to connect with my own.

We are today becoming far more aware of our mental health by tuning into what makes us feel good and what doesn’t serve us. Since both Prince William and Prince Harry opened up about mental health, we’ve seen a huge shift in awareness and openness on the topic. We’re moving away from the stigma that mental health disorders are a big taboo and rather we’re recognising that it really is ok, not to be ok.

My journey with food, health and wellbeing has been just as much of a mental battle as it has physical. When I’m having a bad day with my health or if I experience a trigger of old symptoms, it really effects my mental state and brings back a lot of difficult memories and struggles. Recognising that this is likely to be a long term battle, I’ve identified methods that really help contribute to keeping a positive mindset and healthy mental wellbeing, something that I hope people can practice and benefit from also.  

Eat a well-balanced diet 

For a while now I’ve always tried to stick to a wholesome diet by cutting out processed, refined food and eating plenty of natural, wholesome products that nourish my body. When I eat well, I really thrive as an individual. I’m more productive, positive, focused, compassionate, creative and content. Those weeks where I lose focus on what I’m eating, l really feel the effects by becoming sluggish, unmotivated, stressed and a little low. 

I feel my absolute best when I eat a balanced diet and by balanced I’m talking about plenty of fresh fruit and veg but also a healthy amount of fats (they are not the enemy), carbs (nor are these) and protein. After trying and testing many different eating styles and diets to discover what works for my body, I’ve learnt keeping everything balanced and in moderation is the key to making me feel good. Too much or too little of one food group creates unwanted cravings, restriction or deprivation results in binging and overthinking or panicking about every ingredient contributes to stress. 

If you’re new to a wellness journey and feel overwhelmed with all the (sometimes confusing and conflicting) information, incorporating just 2 or 3 different veggies a day into your meals can be a great start.

Sleep 

Sleep is such an important pillar in life that often gets pushed to the back of our priority list, yet continuous lack of sleep can have a significant effect on our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Sleep is when our bodies enter into an important repairing and healing process. Poor sleep patterns often contribute to poor health and increased risk of diseases and disorders. 

I’m 100% guilty of not always prioritising sleep but when I do, I feel the benefits massively. I make better life choices, have tons more energy, become more positive and generally feel happier in myself after a good night’s sleep. It also encourages me to eat better (those sugar cravings when I’m tired!!), which all contributes to creating an overall positive mind set. 

It might not always be possible to get a solid sleep every night however if you’re experiencing mental lows, try prioritising sleep for a week or two and see if you feel any benefits. For more information on how to improve sleep and the benefits, check out my previous post here.

Movement 

We’ve all heard how exercise releases a hormone in your body called endorphins which often triggers a positive feeling in the body and mind. 

Exercise is a fantastic tool for creating physical and mental wellness and can contribute to a happy, healthy routine. It’s important to find a manageable balance between exercising and your own routine to avoid burnout. In some instances, overexercising and over exhausting yourself can create stress on the body (by increasing a stress hormone called cortisol), which can ultimately lead to negative physical and mental wellbeing. 

From personal experience, exercising too intensely can negatively effect the mind and body, however incorporating continuous movement throughout the day, such as; walking, swimming, cycling and yoga can have a huge positive impact on mental wellbeing. I adore practicing yoga, it's been such an incredible mechanism to create strength in not only my body but also my mind. I’ve also just recently got really into swimming where fresh ocean swims have played a huge role in creating a more positive mindset for me. Taking this slower more mindful approach to exercise from my usual intense HIIT classes has really improved my mindset, the positivity over my body and my health.

Surround yourself with a positive tribe

Naturally, we are social creatures who love and crave to engage with others, so engage with those who bring out the best in you. Surrounding yourself in positivity will instantly create a more positive attitude in yourself. When I’m around negativity it really rubs off on me and creates negative thoughts in my mind. Having a tribe who really supports you, your life growths and achievements but who are also there in times of need are those who you want to hold onto. Let go of those who don’t serve you or who contribute negativity towards your mental wellbeing.

Do what makes you happy – From.The.Soul  

This is probably my most important mantra that I’m starting to live by more and more by each day. I honestly believe creating happiness by doing the things you love will contribute to overall wellness more than anything else. It’s all well and good saying ‘eat more vegetables’, ‘exercise more’, ‘drink less wine and more green tea’ but ultimately doing what you really love day in and day out is single handedly the best therapy to create positivity and happiness. If you’re not happy in a current situation, it’s likely your happiness won’t come and find you – rather you’ll need to go out and find it! Go do those things that really fill your soul!

Since every individual is beautifully unique, everyone will have different fulfillments. For me, I’m learning my happiness doesn’t necessarily come from material items, money or the concept of ‘when I achieve this, I will be happy’ because I’ve found once you reach your achievement, you seek the next ‘thing’ to make you happy while never actually finding true contentment. Rather for me, it’s about appreciating the simpler moments in life, like walking on the beach, swimming in the sea, hearing the birds in the trees, seeing the stars in the sky or even just getting stuck into a good book! Most importantly though, it’s about those true moments with friends and loved ones - laughing, loving and enjoying yourself. These are all moments that make my heart sing and without them (no matter how much exercise or how many vegetables I incorporate), I would really struggle with happiness and contentment.

Don’t ever feel guilty about the things you love, the heart wants what it wants and while it’s great to have goals, it’s even more important to have happiness. 

My final note on mental wellbeing would be, not every day will be a good day and that’s ok. So when you're having a bad time, try to do one (if not more) thing that will make you smile.

Shine bright x

THE BENEFITS OF INTERMITTENT FASTING

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a pretty hot topic at the moment. Whether it’s carried out for religious reasons or for health purposes the benefits of intermittent fasting can be huge if carried out correctly.

If you’ve heard the term flying around but have no idea what the hell it means, don’t worry – you’re not alone! This post will hopefully alleviate some confusion by detailing what IF is, the different methods, some of the benefits and my own personal experience with intermittent fasting.

What is Intermittent Fasting

The focus of IF revolves around the pattern of when you eat, rather than what you eat (although I always encourage a wholesome, balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and veggies).

Naturally, most people enter into a fasted state from when they have their last evening meal (usually between 6pm – 8pm) to when they have breakfast the following day (between 6am – 10am). So typically the period of when you are sleeping (around 8-10 hours), your body will enter into a fasted state until you break your fast (hence the term ‘breakfast’ ) with your morning meal the following day.

The benefits of intermittent fasting are thought to come from when you lengthen this fasting period to around 12hrs - 16hrs each day. There are many ways you can do this, whether it’s giving yourself a 5hr – 10hr feeding period each day or whether you commit to a low calorie intake (<=500) for 1 – 2 days of the week.

Types of Intermittent Fasting

There are a number of ways to carry out intermittent fasting. Each method differs depending on the period of when you eat, so picking a style that sits more comfortably with your body and lifestyle will give you a better chance of sticking to it and feeling the benefits long term.

16:8

Involves not eating for circa 16hrs (including the period you sleep) which leaves an 8hr window open for eating. i.e. Eating between 12pm – 8pm.

5:2

1 or 2 days of the week you restrict calorie intake (usually 500 calories or less). Whether that includes 1 large meal for that day or a number of small, low calorie meals throughout the day. Followed by normal eating patterns on the remaining 5-6 days.

20:5

Involves fasting for 20hrs and eating during a 5hr window i.e. 12pm – 5pm.

24hr Fast

 Eat / Stop / Eat

Where you do not eat for 24 hrs. So typically you may have your last meal at 6pm on Sunday and do not eat again until 6pm on Monday.

What are the benefits of Intermittent Fasting

So, why should you carry out intermittent fasting?

Fasting ultimately helped our ancient ancestors survive through bouts of starvation where food wasn’t as readily available as it is today and in this day and age, it’s becoming recognised as a way to help keep future generations mentally and physically disease-free.
A number of studies have shown how fasting intermittently can benefit the body by kick starting your metabolism, promoting weight loss, increasing brain function, reducing inflammation and repairing / rejuvenating your immune system.


But how does this actually work?


Weight Loss

The process of fasting forces your body to use up all your immediate energy stores of glucose (carbohydrates), once this has taken place your body turns to using ketones by burning fat rather than sugar. In order to lose weight your body needs to burn fat so the process of IF will push your body into burning fat as a source of energy, thus resulting in long term weight loss.

N.B. This is why intermittent fasting and the Ketogenic (high fat, low carb) diet are often used simultaneously.


Boosts Metabolism

While long term fasts (i.e. longer than 24hrs) are thought to slow down metabolism. Short fasts between 14hrs – 16hrs have been proven to speed up metabolism, with one study reporting a 14% increase in metabolic rate. This is thought to be down to the rise in the hormone norepinephrine, which promotes fat burning.


Boosts Immune System

Your immune system is an important defence mechanism against fighting viruses and bacteria. When the immune system is suppressed, the body’s ability to fight infections is impaired, leaving the gateway open to a number of illnesses and diseases. Studies have shown fasting for a long period of time helps reset the immune system by promoting the growth of new white blood cells which predominantly help fight off diseases.

Reduces Inflammation

Chronic inflammation in the gut is often the root cause of many unpleasant symptoms and diseases. Fasting for long intervals is thought to help cleanse the body and reduce systemic inflammation by changing how compounds and proteins interact with each other, inhibiting inflammatory pathways.

Stimulates Brain Function

The process of IF has been shown to improve the growth of new brain cells and nerve tissues which is linked to increased brain performance, focus, memory and mood. It also increases a brain hormone known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which may help to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

My Personal Experience Intermittent Fasting

I’ve been practicing intermittent fasting for around 9 months and I’ve definitely experienced some pretty impressive benefits from doing it. I don’t do it every single day and on those mornings when I’m really hungry or if I’m travelling, I will eat – regardless of the time.

It’s important to note fasting can mean different things to different people. Some believe this involves no food or drink consumption (including water), whereas others feel it can include non-calorific drinks i.e. water, herbal teas, black coffee etc. While both terms are technically correct, I personally still drink non-calorific drinks when fasting as this works for me and my body. 

I generally struggle fasting longer than 16hrs, especially when I’m working. After 16hrs, my blood sugar levels drop and I start feeling fatigue, irritable and slightly woozy! My typical fasting period usually lasts around 14 - 15hrs each day (weekends vary). I find this amount of time works well with my body and up until this period, I’m usually pretty satisfied with water and coffee.

During the week, my typical eating pattern will look something like this:

9am – 11am: Plenty of water, hot lemon tea (fresh lemon juice in hot water to rev the metabolism) and 1 black coffee.
11am – Breakfast: Either a smoothie, yogurt served with fruit & nuts or porridge with almond milk.
2pm – Lunch: Usually some form of protein and carb mixed with veggies or salad.
4pm – Snack: Either nuts, raw veggie sticks, fruit, yogurt or a turmeric latte (anti-inflammatory).
6.30pm- 8pm - Dinner: The time I eat dinner varies depending on work / gym / lifestyle commitments but generally this is not before 6.30pm or after 8pm and it will be my last meal of the day.
Fasting period: between 14hrs – 16hrs.


N.B. It is common for people to skip a meal when fasting. Since they are eating later on in the day, they may typically decide to give breakfast a miss. This is not something I practice. I still eat three meals a day to ensure I am receiving enough nutrients from my diet. It is the timings of my meals that vary, not the amount of meals I eat.


The Benefits I've Experienced


Better digestion: Aside from the benefits listed above, the main reason I decided to test out IF was following reports on how it helped with digestion. Being someone that suffers with IBS I hoped to discover whether it would help with my symptoms and since doing it, I’ve noticed big improvements! Fasting for 12hrs or longer allows the body to rest and repair, which has helped reduce symptoms such as bloating dramatically.

Increased energy and length of workouts: On the mornings where I work out while fasting, I found I have more energy and I tend to extend my workouts a little longer than if I work out later in the day, after I’ve eaten a meal or two. This surprised me as I expected it have the opposite effect by making me feel weak and fatigue.


More focused: When fasting, I’ve noticed I'm far more proactive and productive. My concentration at work lasts longer and I’m able to focus on certain tasks (even the boring ones) for a greater amount of time.


Feeling fuller for longer: After fasting for a fair few hours, when the time comes to eating a meal I find I get fuller sooner and it keeps me felling fuller for longer, avoiding unnecessary snacking.


Additional comments:

Despite intermittent fasting producing some pretty awesome results, it will not be suitable for everyone. Before you embark on your IF journey it’s useful considering the following:

If you have any medical conditions i.e. diabetes consult a professional medical practitioner first before carrying out IF.

Intermittent fasting should not be encouraged to those suffering from eating disorders or women who are pregnant.

Fasting, especially in women, can contribute to hormonal imbalance and may affect ovulation. It can also result in an increase in a hunger hormone leptin, which reduces that feeling of ‘fullness’ after a meal which can then ultimately result in binging. To avoid this, reduce the number of days you fast.

If you are new to IF, start practicing fasting during a shorter amount of time i.e. 9 - 10hrs and slowly increase your fasting period via 30 mins / 1hr each week until you find a suitable period that suits your body and routine.

Fasting for too long can cause blood sugar levels drop significantly. Leaving you feeling weak and fatigue. To avoid this, shorten the length of your fasting period.

Try to ensure your first meal after a fast is high in protein and low in sugar.

It’s important to find your flow and figure out what works for you and your body.

I personally feel IF has provided a number of benefits and reduced some unpleasant symptoms, however it’s important to be mindful of some of the side effects listed above when embarking on your intermittent fasting journey.

Resources: 

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-weight/diet-reviews/intermittent-fasting/ 

https://medium.com/@drbradysalcido/6-surprising-brain-power-benefits-of-intermittent-fasting-49ad1bc39e04 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/intermittent-fasting-metabolism#section3 

https://www.thisisinsider.com/intermittent-fasting-types-benefits-2018-7#intermittent-fasting-can-reduce-inflammation-11 

https://www.wellwisdom.com/fasting-and-the-immune-system-what-you-need-to-know/

HEALTHY EATING IN SICILY

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My partner and I recently returned from sailing around the beautiful Sicilian islands.

I was absolutely blown away by Sicily’s heritage beauty, authenticity and strong passion for delicious food. Being someone who suffers from allergies and intolerances I was slightly apprehensive travelling an area where their culture heavily circulates around pizza, pasta and bread – something that doesn’t bode well with my gluten intolerance. That being said I found healthy eating in Sicily far easier than expected. It was really easy to avoid the gluten based dishes (although my partner still very much enjoyed them) and rather indulge in plenty of rich fruits, Italian salads, cooked veggies (Caponata – a signature Sicilian dish being my favourite) and fresh seafood!


When to go:


Travelling during May is a great time to go if you want to explore the island without having to share your experience with a ton of tourists, since holiday season doesn’t kick off until mid-June. That being said if weather is your priority and you want 24/7 sunshine, visiting during this period can be a gamble.

We were incredibly lucky with the weather during our travels, however we did experience a few days of intermittent cloud, rain and strong winds (especially when sailing). The last 4 – 5 days of our trip (end of May) reached 26 degrees with minimal cloud and wind, which was perfect beach weather for us! If you want consistent sunshine heading out during later months (July, August, September) might be more suitable.

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Where to go:


Palermo

We started our trip by flying into Palermo and spent a day exploring the small city. If you’re on a tight time scale, one day or even an afternoon is absolutely enough time to wonder and explore the main attractions. We were able to check out everything we wanted to see in a few short hours.

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Things to do in Palermo:

• Wonder the traditional food markets
• Visit the famous Palermo Cathedral
• Explore the botanic gardens
• Browse the boutique shops
• Indulge in Italian dining. For a hit of health try out Bio Solo Organico café which provides a number of gluten free, veggie and vegan dishes.
• Enjoy an Italian cuppa and pastry at Casa Stagmit – the best coffee house in town!

I’d describe this town as a little rough around the edges but it definitely doesn’t lack authenticity.

- Palermo Food Market

Headoverhealing - Palermo Cathedral

Headoverhealing - Inside Palermo Cathedral

The next two islands we sailed around were a dream! It’s a tough call to say which one was my favourite between Favignana and San Vito Lo Capo. I loved them both but they’re very different. If you have capacity to check out both - 100% do it!

Favignana

Favignana is more beach orientated, allowing you to beach hop around the island whilst enjoying stunning scenic views and costal walks. The colour of the sea is nothing I’ve witnessed before - 50 shades of turquoise (although a little chilly during May).

I’d definitely recommend hiring a bicycle (we hired electric – very fun) to explore the island, which will take no more than a few hours as it’s relatively small. You can find a number of bike hire stores in the town centre.

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Headoverhealing - Beautiful Bue Marino Beach

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Headoverhealing - Stunning costal walk 

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Restaurants:

The town square is filled with plenty of cafes, coffee houses, bars and restaurants as well as beautiful, boutique shops and market stalls! On the other side of the island near the beaches (approx. 10 minute cycle), is La Costa Sunset Bar - our favourite spot on the island. 

The stunning views overlooking the sea makes it a real winner to witness an incredible sunset. Everything about this bar enticed us to return on a multiple occasions - the buzzy atmos, great food and namely delicious wine! It’s definitely not one to miss out on!

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Headoverhealing - Lido Burrone beach in Favignana with a selection of cafes

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Headoverhealing - La Costa Sunset Bar

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Headoverhealing - Favignana town centre

Headoverhealing - Bike hire in Favignana town centre

Accommodation:

We enjoyed a night at Cave Bianche Hotel, which is possibly the most beautiful hotel we’ve stayed in. The sheltered and secluded complex is comprised of 32 modernised rooms with a number of relaxing facilities available. Guests have access to two pools, 4 jacuzzi’s, a roof terrace, multiple sun loungers and a fine dining restaurant.

The food here further impressed our stay, by enabling us to experience a real taste of true Sicilian cuisine. We enjoyed a mammoth complimentary breakfast buffet and an elegant 3 course evening meal. The staff are really clued up on everything on the menu and helped us make the best food and vino choices!

Since it was pre-holiday season and we booked very the last minute, the room was really cheap. I’d highly recommend checking www.booking.com for deals, which is where we found ours!

Headoverhealing - Pool No. 1 @ Cave Bianche Hotel

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Headoverhealing - Pool No. 2 @ Cave Bianche Hotel

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Headoverhealing - Roof terrace @ Cave Bianche Hotel

San Vito Lo Capo

San Vito Lo Capo, based North-West of Sicily is the most beautiful town I’ve come across. The elegant, narrow streets are filled with luminant white buildings draped in beautifully flourished flowers. The area is quickly becoming a hot spot for mainstream tourists owing to it’s white-sand beach and crystal clear sea, capturing the hearts of many travellers (including mine).

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Town centre - San Vito Lo Capo

Accommodation:

Keen to be amongst the buzz we stayed in a reasonably priced, central Airbnb - Sweet Dreams. The hosts were extremely accommodating, especially when it came to cooking a GF breakfast for me. Each morning we enjoyed our complimentary breakfast in the sunshine on their cute Italian balcony, absorbing the sea view overlooking the whole town.

Being central meant we had everything on our doorstep. We were minutes away from the town centre, filled with boutique market stalls, shops, buzzy cafes, restaurants and bars. The beach is also less than a 5 minute walk, situated in a sheltered bay overlooking beautiful Mount Monaco.

Restaurants:

You definitely won’t be short of food options in this area. There are heaps of cafes and restaurants to choose from. Our top favs are:

• La Caponata Ristorantino – perfect lunch or dinner spot with outside seating. They offered a filling lunch + wine deal for a little as 12 euros.
• Ristorante Corallo – situated in the centre with a beautiful outside garden. The seafood here was amazing! 
• Un Sorso di Sicilia - a fine wine bar owned by a passionate connoisseur who gave up his legal profession to follow his passion in wine. We enjoyed a few glasses of their finest fizz before enjoying a meal at Ristorante Corallo (directly opposite).

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Headoverhealing - White-sand beach in San Vito Lo Capo

Mondello:

Mondello is a small borough of the City of Palermo and was our final stop. We spent two full days here, which gave us more than enough time to explore the area.

Mondello didn’t quite have the same wow factor for us as Favignana and San Vito Lo Capo and having done the trip again, we probably would’ve visited here at the start of the holiday and saved the best islands until last. That being said we discovered some incredible restaurants and stayed in a beautiful Airbnb - La dependance di Villa Rosa owned by two lovely locals (and their gorgeous pups), only minutes down the road from the beach.

Headoverhealing - Modello sunset

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Headoverhealing - Mondello beach

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Restaurants:

Our favourite meal of the trip was at Badalamenti Cucina e Bottega, rated number 1 best restaurant on trip adviser. The Italian passion of the three brothers who own the restaurant oozes through their carefully cultivated, fine dining menu.

The restaurant is situated within a little organic food and wine store, allowing you to take a piece of Italy home with you (we of course couldn’t leave without picking up an organic bottle for the road). The menu is reasonably priced and filled with insanely, delicious organic food and wine, including a number of GF and vegan dishes - all cooked and served in true Italian style.

Headoverhealing - Airbnb pup - La dependance di Villa Rosa 

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My food diary: How to eat healthy in Sicily.

Having mentioned previously suffering with a gluten intolerance meant a lot of the traditional Italian foods were off the cards for me. Don’t let that put you off though if you suffer too! I had more than enough choice on every island, which made healthy eating in Sicily super easy! I found the Mediterranean diet full of rich, fresh fruits; salads, seafood and plenty of olive oil settled really well with my tummy.

My typical daily diet consisted of:

Breakfast: An Italian breakfast mostly revolves around sweet pastries or bread, something I wasn’t too keen on. Rather I opted for plenty of rich fruits and a black coffee to start my day! On the days we were sailing, we made our own breakfast and lunch (usually fruits and salads).

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Lunch: Often involved a plate of Caponata. A signature appetiser dish comprised of baked aubergines, olives, celery, tomatoes, onions & pine nuts. This was my favourite go to dish and was on pretty much every menu!

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Dinner: Involved freshly caught seafood, veggies and roasted spuds or a big Italian salad with a side of veggies.

Tip: If you you're a veggie or vegan and there are limited menu options, try ordering the sides dishes which are mainly made up on fresh veg, salads and potatoes.

My partner on the other hand enjoyed pizza, pasta and bread every night. We were always able to find something to accommodate us both. Doing a little research beforehand on google and reading through a number of blogs definitely helps in finding the best spots!

Headoverhealing - Crystal clear sea in San Vito Lo Capo