Wondering how to detox after a vacation of overindulging? Everyone deserves to take a trip where they can relax, eat everything, and not worry about a thing— no cooking, cleaning, or chores of any kind. My priorities are always to eat great food, enjoy a few cocktails, and sit on a beach somewhere where I can do absolutely nothing. Vacations can be incredibly healing and revitalizing. It’s when I get back from vacation that I need a little detox.

The airport food and travel always take it out of me. I often go long stretches of time without eating a proper meal relying on snacks to get by. After a day of travel, I’m usually exhausted, starving, dehydrated, and in desperate need of a little self-care. Let’s not forget about the jet lag. The good news is you can get back to feeling good again with a little post-vacation detox.

Here are my favorite ways to reset my body after a holiday.

How to Detox After a Vacation

Prioritizing sleep 

Prioritizing sleeping is key. The goal is to get back to a normal sleep routine. Skip naps and gradually shift your bedtime if needed. Avoid staring at a screen before bed, or drinking caffeine late in the day.  If you need a little help getting to sleep, I’m a huge fan of this magnesium sleep supplement. For an extra boost, mix with raw honey, which is said to help naturally create melatonin. 

Home cooked meals

Making home-cooked meals is the best way to detox as you have control over the quality of the ingredients you are using. It doesn’t have to be complicated. For example, you can make a crockpot meal, but be sure to use whole foods.

Hydration and functional beverages

It’s just as important to rehydrate as it is to eat healthy foods. Yes, water is important but I also like changing it up a bit. I love coconut water for electrolytes, kombucha and kefir for natural probiotics and organic acids, and lemon water for a little extra vitamin C. Raw juice is another great way to rehydrate. 

Infrared sauna 

My absolute favorite way to detox toxins is by using an infrared sauna. Infrared saunas detox your body at the cellular level. If you haven’t used one before, I would start off slow only staying in for 10-15 min. With increasing popularity, you can find them at wellness centers, and some gyms. You can also buy an infrared sauna blanket. They are pricey but convenient. 

Epsom salt baths

Another great, and inexpensive way to fuel your post-vacation detox is with an Epsom salt bath. Epsom salt baths can assist with sore muscles and feet from extensive travel. The magnesium can also help support relaxation, stress reduction, and restful sleep.

Post Vacation Detox Meal Plan

This is not meant to be weight loss diet, although you will probably burn fat and shed some pounds naturally eating clean. The goal is to give the digestive system a break from processed foods, alcohol, and excessive sugar. This includes maximizing fresh fruits and vegetables as well as high-quality proteins. As a general rule, I like to swap processed foods for as many whole foods as possible.

Here are the items, I would recommend avoiding during your detox:

• Processed sugar
• Alcohol
• Excess caffeine including from green tea
• Inflammatory foods like gluten, dairy, eggs, and soy
• Foods with additives, preservatives, and ingredients you cannot pronounce

Start your day off right with a healthy breakfast. Kicking off the morning with a nutrient-dense meal can set you up for success for the rest of the day. When you feel good, it motivates you to keep going.

Meal Ideas

Breakfast: 

• Smoothies filled with fruit, healthy fats, seeds, and green powders like Spirulina. Blend with water or non-dairy milk. I prefer using light canned coconut milk since there are fewer additives or making my own almond milk. 
• Granola with berries
• GF/Vegan waffles (fav recipe) 
• Avocado toast

Lunch/Dinner: 

• Homemade soups 
• Salads
• Sandwiches or wraps with high quality protein
• Brown rice bowls
• Veggie sushi with coco aminos (great soy-free/gf substitute) 
• GF pasta with veggies (sundried tomatoes and artichokes are my favorite) 
• Turkey or a grass-fed burger topped with onions, mushrooms, avocado, and tomato (Primal Kitchen Ketchup is a cleaner alternative)

Snacks: 

• Hummus and veggies
• Fresh fruit (avoid dirty dozen if not buying organic)
• Nuts (avoid trail mix with seed oils and added sugars) 
• Thunderbird Bars if you need something quick 

Beverages: 

• Water (+ lemon/raw honey) 
• coconut water (be sure to get a brand without additives or sweeteners) 
• probiotic beverages like kombucha and kefir
• fresh juices 

Seasonings

• Himalayan pink salt 
• Herbs 
• Olive oil 
• Lemon

When you return home, it’s important to stock up on the essentials so you can stick to your detox. You may find that you feel so good eating this way that it influences your eating habits moving forward. This post-holiday detox is sure to help you recover from any overindulgences from an extended vacation, support your body’s natural ability to remove toxins, and give you the energy you need to recover from jet lag. A few days of incorporating these habits will sure to have you feeling back to life.