Postcards from Madeira + Navigating Guilt on Holiday
It’s all too easy to fall into the all-or-nothing mindset, but our bodies don’t work like that. They're dynamic, adaptive, and they respond to long term-patters, not occasional pastries.
We are not long back from the island of Madeira, and I can confidently say it was one of my favourite trips to date. With cliff-edge trails, mountain peaks, sandy black beaches and a horizon that seemed to go on forever… Madeira felt like a slice of paradise.
It was dreamy and nourishing, and like most holidays, came with more aperol + gelato than usual. In previous years, I would have viewed this as a setback, as if I had “undone” something by deviating from my normal routine. But now, with 7 years of nutritional science under my belt, I understand how intelligent our bodies are and that they simply don’t “unravel” after a few indulgences.
It’s all too easy to fall into the all-or-nothing mindset where a deviation from your usual routine and food choices feels like you have failed and that you may as well throw in the towel and start all over again …But the truth is our bodies don’t work like that. They're not fitness watches analysing data, they're dynamic, adaptive, and they respond to long-term patterns, not perfection. Our well-being is a result of what we do most of the time, not once in a while and spans far beyond just the foods that we eat. So yes, I had the gelato, but I also had plenty of fresh, tropical fruits, slow dinners, joyful movement, sunlight and rest. And for me, that’s exactly what well-being should look like.
How to support your body on holiday without the guilt
Zoom out and observe the bigger picture. Ask yourself - How am I feeling overall? Am I well-rested, connected to the people around me, moving my body, present + enjoying this moment fully?
Remember that digestion isn’t just what you eat, but how you eat, slow down, be present and let pleasure be part of the process.
Know that your nervous system matters just as much as your nutrients. Going at a slower pace, ignoring the to-do list, prioritising joy, sunlight, and laughter with people you love, all support gut health, metabolism, and hormonal balance in meaningful ways.
So no, this wasn’t a trip of “perfect choices”, but it was full of movement, rest, connection, nature, and joy. And that’s the wellness I’ll always return to.