Last year my family was fortunate to have a joint vacation in Wells, Maine. It was so much fun for the kids, and easy for the adults as we could be a bit more frugal about the food and actually have more choices than if we had stayed at a hotel. You see, my beloved grandparents had passed away within 10 months of each other the year before, and with their inheritance, my parents decided to do what would make my grandparents the most happy – spending time all together. Our vacation was a beautiful remembrance of my grandparents, and took place during my grandmother’s July 4th birthday, which we had always celebrated together. We knew my grandparents would love that they were able to give us this gift of time and memories in Maine, the kids playing and swimming all day, every day!
We stayed at Village By The Sea (VBTS), in Wells, Maine, and it was the perfect place for a family with their spacious condos, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and proximity to the beach, grocery store and trolley! (This is not a paid post, by the way – I just loved VBTS!)
At VBTS, each condo unit is owned by a different person. The company itself manages the property and guests. You are responsible for leaving the kitchen clean when you go – putting the dishes in the dishwasher when you leave so everything is clean. They provide cleaning products, dishes, pots, pans, and silverware. Each unit seems to have it’s own individual special items depending on what the unit owner has provided. Our unit had a toaster while my brother’s unit had a blender. We loved being able to head out to the beach in the morning, come back for lunch and a nap, then head over to the pool in the afternoon. Dinners were easy – mostly because we planned ahead of time. These meal ideas also translate well for camping.
Easy Vacation Meals
While you are on vacation with kids, healthy meal planning can still be done. Just like everything else with kids, it takes a little preparation but you will be relieved you spent the time to do it. Having something prepared and stocking the cooler with healthy options you will feel better and have more energy to do all of those fun summer activities!
Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Vacation
- Homemade Breakfast Bread Buns
- Breakfast Burritos
- Cereal and Fruit
- Homemade Breakfast Bars
- Yogurt, Granola and Fruit
- Baked Oatmeal with Brown Sugar
- Refrigerator Oatmeal in a Jar
Healthy Lunch Ideas for Vacation
- Tuna Sandwiches (Canned tuna and sealed mayo)
- Pre-made Pasta Salad
- Pre-made Burritos
- Hummus, crackers, cheese and fruit
- Sloppy Joes – Buns, cheese, frozen sloppy joes, chips, fresh carrots
- Greek Salad in a Jar with Orzo and Beans
Healthy Dinner Ideas for Vacation
- Turkey Burgers and Pre-made Baked Beans
- Pre-made Chicken Burritos
- Sweet and Sour Meatball Skewers
- Ravioli Casserole and Pre-Made or Bagged Salad
- Moroccan Pinto Beans and Tomatoes (serve in tortilla with cheese)
- Shrimp and Corn Kebabs
Depending on whether you are camping or staying at a condo with a kitchen, you can decide which meal ideas work for you and which you can make ahead or prepare on-site. It was very relaxing to be able to have some meals prepared ahead of time but have the luxury of popping a frozen dish into the oven. We also had a BBQ one night with salads and chips. Our vacation with my family was awesome! There were 11 of us ranging from 3 weeks old to 62 years old and we all respected each other’s differences and didn’t feel we needed to be together every minute, but also made a point to make plans each day for a meal and/or activity. I wish we could do this every year!
For more like this, check out the Healthy Recipes page!
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I’m impressed that you are so organized even for vacation! When we go out of town, we always end up eating out mostly, and then I feel yucky about it at the end of the trip. We do usually stay in a place with a kitchen, so I should continue cooking while I’m there! I guess taking a break from cooking and dishes ends up being part of the vacation 😉
You are right Andi, part of vacation is taking a break from cooking! I did do this to a certain extent because my family was there and we took turns hosting meals. Also, have things planned out ahead of time and some meals even prepared, I was able to relax and enjoy vacation!