If you’re anything like me, visiting the Caribbean means admiring the lush vegetation and wondering just how everything got to look so healthy here. Invariably, thoughts turn to your own health, and suddenly you regret that slice at the airport. But travel is for new beginnings, as well as indulging in things you already love. That’s also the spirit of New Year’s, but we all know that resolutions, no matter how healthy, are a little difficult to keep when you’re thrust right back into work mode following what, for many, was already an indulgent holiday season. That’s why whether you’re a health guru or neophyte, you’ll love our new Barbados Health and Wellness program, which combines delicious, unique raw fusion cuisine, cooked-in villa, and programs designed to reinvigorate the body and soul through yoga and exercise, many of which are available in-villa as well.
The cornerstone of the program is the delicious raw fusion foods menu. Conceived by internationally-acclaimed raw food chef Manuela Scalini, the program lets you choose your own menu of healthy, delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options, though healthy and delicious may be a bit of an understatement. The foods themselves are all cooked using organic fruits and vegetables, with a definite focus on using as many raw ingredients as possible so that the nutrients don’t get burned away. Of course, that means ingesting a lot of fibre, which is sort of the point – the program is also meant to offer a detox from the kinds of foods that you’ve been used to eating (like those whose ingredients list requires a periodic table to decipher) and offer the body a fresh start. Of course, some may need or want more detoxification than others (and for those who want a true detox, delicious shakes and elixirs are available), and therein lies the beauty of the program, as well as a major element for why the food is so delicious – everything is made to meet your tastes and dietary needs, and the choices on hand will make you think ‘gourmet’ rather than ‘raw food.’ I’m talking pancakes, lasagnas, sushi rolls, fresh cocktails and the most amazing deserts you’ll ever be proud to experience. You can have a skilled chef come prepare these beauties in your villa’s kitchen, or just have them delivered right to your door, ready to be devoured – again, your choice.
Of course, food is just one part of rejuvenating one’s body, soul, and mind. Your concierge can coordinate Yoga and exercise activities that will help put all that extra energy to good use. Activities are tailored to all skill levels that take advantage of Barbados’ natural beauty to ensure constant inspiration and enjoyment from the participants as well as make them more effective, since even just the sounds of nature have been found to increase relaxation in a very significant way. Group activities, meanwhile, create strong bonds between the participants in a non-forced way, meaning you’re guaranteed to at least make a few travel-buddies, though some life-long friendships have been formed too. Best of all, just like food, your concierge can completely customise your program.
The best part is, everything is world-class. I know I mentioned the food, but I don’t think I emphasised quite enough the fact that this is raw fusion cuisine like you’ve never seen it before. Imagine (and fair warning to the hungry): Watermelon, sourop, goji, coconut, camu, and lucuma smoothies; Mango, cabbage, and avocado slaw in a fresh tamarind marinade and raspberry vinegar reduction; Raw lasagna with brazil nut pesto and tarragon alfredo sauce; Raw peaches and cream ice cream with hard chocolate fudge shell (dairy free)….the list goes on. The detox options are varied and delicious too, but best of all they’re made using natural ingredients that will simultaneously relax and rejuvenate you. Your whole perspective on food is sure to change, and, in the end, isn’t a change of perspective one of the main reasons we travel?
Ultimately, it’s that harmony of expertise and customisation that really separates this program from all others. Not only are you working with the best, but they’re working with you to design a program that’s perfect for you and your group. Looking for a liquid-only, intense detox with daily hikes and runs? You got it. Want a more relaxing experience filled with delicious, decadent and yet somehow-still-healthy food and some breezy yoga on the beach? No problem either. It’s this winning combo that have earned Manuela international acclaim everywhere from China to Brazil (from the Rio edition of Harper’s Bazaar, no less), and it’s also why Rental Escapes is so proud to now be offering this unparalleled service to our guests.
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