Haley Colette’s Guide to Cabo: A 48 Hour Adventure!

Travel

Cabo is a beautiful place between its sandy beaches, drought-friendly agriculture, and natural beauties. It also happens to be my FIRST TRIP OUT OF THE U.S.!!! I’ll be sharing all kinds of tips, tricks, safety hazards, and must-do adventures, all of which I covered in less than 48 hours!

    Weather

    The weather met my expectations precisely. It was warm and dry, when I went in the beginning of Spring. The first day, it was relatively overcast, but the sun there is strong, so lather up on sunscreen PLEASE! The last thing you want is to be burnt the first day.

    Bring summer clothes! I spent most of my time in a bathing suit, but we walked around town in shorts and t shirts comfortably. The temperature doesn’t change much from day to night, so expect dinner to be warm.

    Hydration

    It’s really dry there, the sun evaporates all the water out of your system. Make sure you travel with a bottle of water, everywhere and hydrate as much as possible. Drinking lots of water the day before often helps aid your body’s adjustment to the arid climate. We drank from the hotel tap water because it was a resort and a reliable source, but if you go into town, be careful! Since Mexico is a Third World Country, you may want to buy bottled water just in case or even better, bring a filtered water bottle like a Berkey or Brita and save the environment while you’re at it!

    Must-Do’s

    Since our time was limited and we didn’t have a car to drive, we had to choose one spot to go to for the day. We went to Marina, Cabo San Lucas a great destination if you’re looking to do sight-seeing, whale watching, shopping, etc. We walked around the shops there and got to know the culture. We went on one tourist attraction, the water taxi, and it was WORTH IT! There are solicitors everywhere offering rides, but we went to an established company for safety reasons. The water taxi was a 45-minute boat ride which visited 9 attractions including The Arch, Lovers Beach, Divorce Beach, Scooby Doo Rock, etc. It was gorgeous and extremely affordable at only $10 a person!

    Food

    The part you have probably been waiting for! The food there is good, but traveling around is really expensive because they don’t have Uber, and taxis are $$! We stayed at the hotel for meals which had a small selection of different restaurants. When we went to Marina, we ate snacks all day instead of formal meals including fruit bowls from a local deli (which are way cheaper than here!), gelato, chips and guacamole.

    Only advice–order MEXICAN food. I’m sure you already know this, but don’t order Chinese food in Mexico. It’s not a good idea. Trust me.

    Bargaining

    The best part (my personal favorite part) about Mexico is that you can BARGAIN! None of their prices are set in stone, so be careful when you make purchases. If they know you are a tourist, they will increase the prices drastically. Evaluate the item yourself and realistically determine how much you’re willing to spend on it before you ask for the price. They usually counteract your question with “How much do you want to pay for it?”, so be ready! We brought U.S. dollar bills in small increments ($10 and $20 bills) and when we negotiated, we took out a bill and put them in a “take it or leave it” situation, and trust me they don’t want to leave it…

    Safety

    Staying safe is your #1 priority. We made sure that all of our taxi rides, water travels, etc. were all stemming from an established company. At Marina, they had a tourist support center, where they recommended some companies to use for the water taxi and cab ride, and although the ones they recommend are usually more expensive, your safety is worth it.

    There are people constantly soliciting products or boat rides up and down the streets. They often try to lead you into back rooms of stores or onto boats for god-knows-what. Make sure you always travel with a friend and have easy access to a way outside. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people offered us rides “for free” and tried to lead us down to their boat. Say NO!

    So there you have it! How to do Cabo San Lucas in less than 48 hours. If you have any questions, please reach out and I’d be happy to help you! Please leave any favorite spots/activities in Cabo in the comments below. I’d LOVE to hear about your favorite places!

    Soft Baked Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

    Snacks

    There’s really nothing I crave more than a warmed, soft-baked, cookie with a latte in the morning or for a little something sweet after dinner. These Soft Baked Vegan Gingerbread Cookies prettyyy much do it for me. They’re so soft, they almost melt in your mouth, and they have the perfect touch of sweetness to ease a sweet tooth.

    Also, they’re naturally VEGAN. No need for any flax egg/ banana substitutes to try to get the recipe to work out, I got you covered. There’s also tons of substitutions you can make if you see some ingredients you don’t have on hand. This recipe is meant to be easy and available for anyone to make–let alone all the benefits that come from a…COOKIE!

    Ingredients

    Dry:

    1 cup almond flour

    1 cup oat flour (1 cup oats, blended into a flour)

    1/3 cup coconut sugar

    2 tsp cinnamon

    1 tsp ginger

    1 tsp baking powder

    Wet:

    1/2 cup almond milk

    3 tbsp molasses

    Directions

    1. In two bowls, combine wet and dry ingredients, then pour one into the other and fold.
    2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then use 2 spoons to distribute the batter into cookies (I did 18), leaving a little room for expansion.
    3. Top with more cinnamon and coconut sugar, then bake at 350F for 20 minutes.
    4. Allow to cool, then indulge in your healthy, soft baked treat!
    5. Enjoy!

    Notes:

      If you don’t have coconut sugar on hand, sub in brown sugar at a 1:1 ratio for the same results.
      Oat flour can be made by blending 1 cup of rolled oats in a blender or food processor for a few seconds to achieve a fine flour.
      Almond flour and oat flour can be substituted with any other flours in a 1:1 ratio (with the exception of coconut flour)
      To achieve a crispier/firmer cookie, bake at a higher temperature, and check it periodically to prevent the cookies from burning.

    Nut Free Fat Balls

    Snacks

    Lately I’ve been a huge fan of FAT. I know, sounds strange but it’s legit. Healthy fats are an essential part of a balanced diet, because they aid in satiety unlike carbohydrates or sugars. This is because fats take longer to digest, therefore they provide sustained energy (not that awful sugar high/crash cycle), which makes them perfect fuel for a workout, or a snack between meals!

    As much as I love incorporating healthy fats in my meals, I don’t go crazy with them. I like to keep my diet as balanced as possible, so these balls aren’t totally loaded with oils (unlike some that have 1/2 cup of straight coconut oil!). These guys have the perfect amount of seeds and supplementing oil to give them a good consistency and taste, while still allowing them to hold up their notable reputation for providing some solid energy!

    They’re portable, pop-able, and an absolute go-to snack for me. They’re completely vegan, high in proteins and healthy fats, and taste JUST LIKE creampuffs (I swear the resemblance is uncanny)! I love to eat a few for breakfast, snack on them between meals, or have a few for dessert.

    Ingredients

    1/2 cup sunflower seeds

    1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

    1/2 cup watermelon seeds

    1 tbsp ground flax seeds

    1 scoop vanilla protein

    2 tsp cinnamon

    1 tbsp coconut oil + coconut butter

    1/4 cup plant based milk

    5-6 pitted dates (or to taste)

    Directions

    1. In a food processor pulse together all seeds, vanilla protein, and cinnamon until the seeds are roughly ground (remember they’re going to be processed more, so don’t ground them to a flour consistency!)
    2. Add in coconut oil and coconut butter and plant milk, then process until evenly combined.
    3. Pulse in the dates in divided amounts, scraping down the edges if needed. If your mixture is still crumbly, add more dates to create a more sticky batter.
    4. Use a tablespoon measure to create 18 balls, then line them up on parchment paper and store them in the freezer.
    5. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container (I use a Stasher Bag), and keep them in the freezer for a quick and easy snack!
    6. Enjoy!

    Notes:

      Store them in the freezer for a firm consistency, or the fridge if you prefer them to be softer.
      Swap in any seeds in this recipe, just make sure it’s the same quantity.
      Use desired amount of dates based off the level of sweetness you prefer.
      Any flavor of protein powder can be used to customize this recipe, or you can swap in collagen peptides for a hair, skin, and nails supplement.
      Feel free to add matcha, turmeric, cacao powder, or any other flavors to customize your balls!

    Matcha Overnight Oats

    Breakfast

    I’m an overnight oats addict. I said it, but for good reason! Overnight oats are a quick and easy way to get in all the components necessary for a good breakfast. You can pretty much spice them up with whatever you desire, add protein, nut butter, and *BAM!* you’ve got a balanced meal.

    When prepping a breakfast, it’s essential to hit all if the macros for proper fuel. That’s why I supplement the carbs from oatmeal with protein power and nut butter for healthy fat. I’ve found that three of these combined is the ONLY thing that keeps me full for hours at a time. Nothing too crazy or expensive, but it’s a miracle food if ya ask me.

    Ingredients

    1/2 cup rolled oats

    1 tbsp protein powder

    1 tbsp nut butter

    1 tsp cinnamon

    1 tsp matcha

    stevia

    Directions

    In a sealable jar, combine all ingredients.

    Store in the fridge overnight, and in the morning, add desired toppings (I did my grain-free granola, coconut, and almond butter)!

    Take it to go, OR enjoy it in the comfort of your home. Your choice 😉

    Enjoy!

    Soft Baked Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Snacks

    Somehow I don’t have a cookie recipe yet?!! I don’t know how either… I love a good cookie, but it’s hard to find healthy options on the market without loads of processed sugar and dairy.

    But don’t worry, because I got you! These cookies are paleo, grain-free, keto (if you use sugar free maple syrup), and INSANELY TASTY!!! You don’t have to compromise one bit for those cookies you desire. Indulge, indulge, indulge!

    Ingredients

    Wet:

    1/2 cup almond butter + 1/4 cup maple syrup

    1 egg (vegan: sub flax egg)

    1/2 tsp vanilla extract

    Dry:

    1/3 cup almond flour

    1/4 tsp baking powder

    Toppings/Add-ins:

    1/3 cup chocolate chips

    Directions

    In two bowls, combine wet and dry ingredients, then pour one into the other and combine.

    Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and use two spoons to distribute the batter into 12 dollops.

    Use your spoon to swirl them into circles, leaving plenty of room between each cookie (they expand).

    Bake at 350F for 12 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to dry.

    Enjoy!

    My Meal Prep Experience With Catered Fit

    Lifestyle

    I’m a busy gal. I’m not going to lie, most days I STRUGGLE with balancing everything on my plate. I’d do anything to lift off the weight and relieve some of the stress I experience on a daily basis.

    My schedule looks a lot like this:

    • 6:30 am wakeup
    • 7:00 am – 2:30 pm school
    • 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm field hockey
    • 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm homework
    • 11:00 pm bedtime

    As you know, I love to cook (definitely an understatement!) but when I get home from a full day of events *exhausted*, the last thing I want to do is make a full meal. I prefer to spend the few hours I have to spare on myself! I love to do a little flow through in the morning, before school, and in the afternoons, I allot some time to relax, because you’re body needs its rest!

    With such limited flexibility in my schedule, it’s tough to cook myself meals as meal times come around. Lunch and dinner are usually a scramble, because it’s tough to whip up foods that are nourishing and fast while I’m hangry! That’s why I tried out Catered Fit, a meal prep company that delivers meals right to your door!

    Why Catered Fit?

    Of all the meal prep companies out there, Catered Fit is particularly alluring because it allows YOU to be in control of your meals! They provide a wide range of nutritious options and meal sizes, so you won’t be starving yourself or doing any major restriction. This meal prep is sustainable, it’s not meant to be a diet, but rather a supplement that takes a little weight off your schedule.

    How Does It Work?

    I tried the 5-day meal plan. I went on their website and chose a meal plan that suited my diet (I switched between meatless/paleo), then specified my allergies/intolerances (I did dairy/gluten free). They created a custom menu for me that fit my needs, and gave me the option of different portion sizes to choose from to properly fuel my activities (I did the athlete portion)! Everyday at around 4:00pm, a delivery man came to my door and left my meals in a reusable bag with ice packs, so it wouldn’t spoil if I wasn’t home. Each of the meals were labeled with all of their macros, nutrition information, and ingredients, so I could see exactly what I was putting in my body, and make sure I was eating a good balance of food groups.

    What Impact Did It Have On My Day?

    Catered Fit was AMAZING! It was so convenient, and it sped up my day significantly. To be perfectly honest, food is always on my mind. I’m always trying to analyze how I feel and determine what I want for my next meal, and THEN I have to cook it, so yeah it’s safe to say a few hours are dedicated to food alone. With Catered Fit, I made all those decisions ahead of time, and all I had to do was eat it when I became hungry! My day transformed completely, because when I got home, I was able to eat immediately and get a major kickstart on my homework, which saved crazy amounts of time…and ultimately allowed me to get more sleep (and who doesn’t want that??).

    Catered Fit is more than just a meal prep company, it’s a lifestyle fix. It helped ease my day and allowed me to spend more time being productive, rather than dilly-dallying on meal prospects! It’s definitely worth the extra $$ to have meals prepared and delivered to your door. At the end of my plan, I felt better rested, less stressed, and healthier. It was a treat for myself, and maybe it doesn’t have to be every week, but it feels good to have a break every once in a while.

    • You can navigate to their website to order your meals here.
    • Use my code “TASTEBYHAY” to save $20 on your order!

    Vanilla Almond Grain Free Granola

    Breakfast, Snacks

    Ingredients

    2 cups nuts/seeds of choice (use a mix if possible!)

    1/3 cup maple syrup

    1/4 cup almond butter

    1/4 cup vanilla protein

    1/4 cup nut milk or water

    1 tbsp coconut oil (melted)

    1 tsp cinnamon + vanilla extract

    Toppings/Add-ins:

    1/3 cup chocolate chips

    2 tbsp cacao nibs

    Directions

    Chop the nuts on a cutting board using a large knife.

    Transfer to a large mixing bowl, and combine all ingredients *except for the chocolate chips*.

    Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and evenly distribute the batter into a thin layer.

    Bake at 300F for 25 minutes, mixing around twice to make sure it cooks evenly.

    Allow to cool completely, then add in the chocolate chips. Sprinkle cinnamon and coconut sugar to add more flavor if needed!

    Enjoy!