FoodNutrition

These Serene Cycladic Island Resorts Are a Must-Sea for Wellness-Minded Travelers

Find a roundup of the best Greek island wellness destinations: Calilo hotel in Ios, and Andronis Arcadia and Andronis Concept in Santorini.

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Photo: Courtesy of Calilo
Updated Dec 5, 2023

Written by 

Betty Gold

If the boom-boom beach clubs in Ibiza and Mykonos made their way to your FYP last summer: Same. If you found yourself scrolling through video after video feeling some form of impressed, envious, and exhausted (how does one “no sleep-bus-club-another club” for days on end when it’s 95°F?!): Ditto. These gorgeous Greek islands were among of the most popular places to travel in 2023, and TravelTok made sure we were all well-aware.

We love a travel trend, and nothing—truly, nothing—beats the opportunity to visit Greece at any time of year, for any reason. But something I found missing from the vast majority of these bouncy, high-energy videos I’d scroll by was the messaging that Greece’s gorgeous, ancient Cycladic islands are the original epicenter of serenity and calm, too.

On a recent overseas adventure, I was lucky enough to discover that the islands of Ios and Santorini are a must-sea (erm, see) for anyone seeking a wellness-focused Mediterranean vacation. And don’t be tricked into thinking summer is your only option! If you and crowded cobblestone streets don’t mesh well—especially when a high-UV index is involved—the magic of Greece in the fall is unmatched. Tons of sun and seafood; complete quiet and serenity.

Here, our favorite wellness-focused properties in Ios and Santorini—all of which champion sustainability, prioritize peace and artwork, serve five-star farm-to-table Greek cuisine, and provide endless opportunities for you to immerse yourself in silence. (Aside from the sound of the Aegean sea that’s right outside your window.)

Where To Stay in Ios: Calilo

Calilo—located on the island of Ios, which is conveniently between Santorini and Mykonos—is the most well-curated, thoughtful, and unique wellness resort on the planet, and that’s said with zero drop of superlative. Upon seeing it, questions like: Did I create this place in my mind? came to mind immediately.

How to describe. Picture a backdrop of deep blue Aegean ocean tucked between two cliffs, with a luxury resort (carved from the native rock) perched atop an untouched beach. Calilo is cradled by 1,000 acres of protected land and six miles of golden sand and cerulean sea. The sensation of being immersed in warmth, beauty, and nature is omnipresent on Calilo’s property, which is also home to a sparkling new spa and fitness center, two top-notch restaurants, a church, and 30 of the most breathtaking suites ever built.

Everything at Calilo is natural; then add dazzling, fantastical.

Water, light, and art are the three central themes of Calilo. The first two come built-in by the location—the property’s owner, Angelos Michalopoulos and his wife Vassiliki Petridou make sure every inch of the land’s rustic, breathtaking beauty is preserved. But the element of artwork is what gives Calilo its soul—and character.

“The philosophical mission of Calilo is to offer a product where architecture and art are used to uplift the lives of our guests by providing them with a joyful, positive, carefree, and playfully quaint physical and emotional environment to relax, let their guard down, think less, and feel more,” says Michalopoulos, also a self-taught writer, sculptor, and painter. “During the process of conceptualizing and creating Calilo both as a physical place and an emotional one, the exceptional beauty and emotional intensity of the land pushed us to realize how much we must strive to make life beautiful for others.” Michalopoulos’s artistic vision is Calilo, and vice versa—an apt anagram of the phrase Create a Life You Can Fall in Love with.

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Every nook, cranny, couch, tile, teacup, slipper, corkscrew, and otherwise square-inch of Calilo is awe-inducing artwork. Trust: This gem of the Cyclades is setting a new standard for elite travel destinations when it comes to design and creativity.

Property highlights:

  • 30 suites, each individually-designed with ornate marble interiors. Each has its own panoramic sea views and footsteps-from-the-sand beach access, plunge pools, swim-up bars, and romantic day beds.
  • Calilo’s land conservation project has planted over 70,000 trees and bushes around the island of Ios to date restore the habitat that had previously been burned by wildfires and deforestation. In addition, the family has invested heavily in the Elektra olive tree project, where they have planted over 550 ancient olive trees they had saved from being sold for wildfire in Athens. Guests can ‘adopt’ and name a tree and follow it throughout its journey of life over the years.
  • Five-star dining features the freshest vegetables, seafood, and fresh fruit from the earth each day. The sky is the limit: Beehives supply honey to drizzle on local goats’ cheese; they produce extra virgin olive oil from their own olive groves. Menu items showcase delicious local Greek specialities, as well as wines and spirits.
  • Immaculate spa features a number of stress and tension-easing treatments that target sleep quality, energy, muscles, skincare, and more.
  • Exercise options abound! Greet the day with a sun salutation on the sand, hit the fancy new fitness center, or take a meditative walk, meandering coastal trails scented with thyme and oregano, before winding down with yoga nidra at the end of the day.
  • Because donkeys are an extinct species in Greece, especially in the Cyclades, Calilo’s owners created an on-site donkey sanctuary dedicated to their preservation. They also have rescued dogs who were affected by the wildfires in Athens.
  • 99 percent of the land that Calilo is on is undeveloped in order to sustain Ios’ natural beauty. The land that has been developed has been done so in an environmentally-friendly manner with construction material extracted from the ground of the actual building site, including marble and stone granite.

Where To Stay in Santorini: Andronis Arcadia and Andronis Concept Wellness Resort

Santorini is stunning—think white buildings, blue rooftops, and cobblestone streets perched far atop volcanic cliffs and Aegean ocean for miles. For those seeking a hotel that’s steps away from the center of Oia, Santorini’s sweetheart city, the best-in-class for wellness (and everything else) is Andronis Arcadia.

Arcadia is the newest addition to the Andronis family of five-star hotels, villas, and retreats in Santorini. Despite its proximity to the many magical shops and restaurants of Oia, the property is secluded and quiet. (All the more paramount when you discover that every suite on the property includes an ocean-facing terrace and private plunge pool.)

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Another huge win for wellness here is the amount of space each suite has—the bathroom alone could fit a dozen New York City-sized apartments (says my “NYC math”). And yet: the floor-to-ceiling windows, natural fabrics, and minimalist design all draw the eyes outwards towards the sun and sea. The only challenge you’ll face at Andronis Arcadia will be the task of choosing when to venture out of your room and when to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.

Property highlights:

  • Andronis Arcadia is located on the fringe of picturesque Oia, an easy stroll from the village center, but far enough away to ensure peace and privacy. It consists of 119 suites and villas each one with its own private pool, situated to capture the views of the Aegean sea and the island’s unforgettable sunsets.
  • Room includes a pillow menu (!)
  • Three massive, gorgeous pools on-site cater to adults, kids, and everyone in between.
  • There are two restaurants at Andronis Arcadia. Watching the sun rise at Pacman Sunset Restaurant as you spoon the world’s most exquisite homemade Greek yogurt (topped with local kiwi jam and chia seed granola) is a must. Find more delicious Greek cuisine and gorgeous views on-site at Beefbar Santorini, which faces the caldera and its stunning sunsets.
  • 60 percent of the suppliers for food and beverage are small businesses from the island.
  • Eco-friendly car options are available for more environmentally conscious transportation.

Andronis Concept Wellness Resort

It’s no secret that Greece is a nation long-recognized for its wellness practices—many of the planet’s longest-living people call the Greek island of Ikaria home. Andronis Concept is a beautiful, immersive expression of why the Mediterranean lifestyle is so closely linked to longevity.

Andronis Concept is nestled on a quiet road in Imerovigli, a smaller city on the island’s coast. The 28 pool suites and villas are built to capture the sunset over the Aegean sea towards the caldera. This place is for peak tranquility and relaxation. While every aspect of Andronis Concept astounds—and a visit to Kallos Spa is a must—the most unforgettable part about your stay here will be the immersive views. Truly: Booking a room here gets you a front-row seat to some of the most scenic parts of Santorini, 24/7.

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FoodNutrition

‘I’m a Food Safety Expert, and This Is the Exact Temperature Your Fridge Needs to Be to Prevent Nasty Bacteria From Growing’

Foods in the fridge need to be stored in cold temperatures to avoid bacterial growth. Find out the best fridge temperature.

woman in yellow shirt opening up fridge in kitchen and checking the expiration date on a bottle
Photo: Stocksy / Anna Berkut
Updated Feb 5, 2025

Written by 

Tiffany Ayuda

Maintaining a clean, organized fridge set at the proper temperature is ultimately what’s going to keep you safe from harmful, illness-causing bacteria. Hey, we’re certainly not calling on everyone to pick up the “fridgescaping” trend of decorating the inside of your fridge with candles, books, and picture frames. But you know what isn’t a good look? Slimy leftovers and rotting fruits and vegetables. That’s why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends chilling your foods at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. But is there a perfect temp? We spoke to a food safety expert to explain what the best fridge temperature is and why.

Experts in This Article

Bryan Quoc Le

food scientist and food consultant

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What is the best fridge temperature for storing food?

According to Bryan Quoc Le, PhD, a food scientist and food science consultant, the ideal temperature is 37 degrees Fahrenheit. “Essentially, these are nearly the lowest temperatures you can get to before your food starts to frost over. The lower the temperature, the slower the growth of the microorganisms is. Every 10 degrees higher than that temperature (37 degrees Fahrenheit), the microorganisms can double their growth rate,” Quoc Le explains.

Most modern refrigerators allow you to set the exact temperature, but if it doesn’t come equipped with one, Quoc Le suggests placing some peanut oil in your fridge and seeing if it solidifies. “Peanut oil happens to have a freezing point of 37.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius), which is just slightly above the ideal temperature for a refrigerator. If you put peanut oil in the fridge and it solidifies, then your refrigerator is at the right temperature,” he says. That said, the FDA recommends checking often whether your food is chilling at the proper temperature, so buying a freestanding appliance thermometer is your best bet.

How to store food safely in the fridge

Aside from keeping your fridge at 37 degrees Fahrenheit, you can help prevent bacterial growth and foodborne illnesses by storing food properly and refrigerating cooked dishes shortly after eating.

1. Keep fruits and vegetables in the crisper

The crisper drawers in your fridge are specifically reserved for your fruits and vegetables because they don’t require as cold of a temperature as the rest of your fridge to prevent spoilage, Quoc Le says. Crisper bins expose your produce to different levels of humidity and restrict air flow, which will help fruits and vegetables prolong their longevity.

“If it gets too cold for them [fruits and vegetables], the tissue will start to break down. They go through what’s called chill injury. This means that they go through the same process as they would in the winter. When that happens, the plant will try to reabsorb a lot of the nutrients and break down quickly. They get softer, they get mealy, there’s going to be off flavors, and it’s not going to taste as good. They lose a lot of their sugars,” Quoc Le explains.

Other foods, like meat, dairy, and eggs, should be stored outside of the crisper drawers in their appropriate bins at cooler temperatures.

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2. Place leftover food in the fridge immediately

Whether you just finished cooking or are reheating leftovers, you want to keep whatever food you don’t end up serving or eating back in the fridge ASAP. Leaving food out of the fridge allows bacteria to proliferate. “The danger zone is 60 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. So foods that are hot that cool down to that temperature and foods that are cold and warm up to that temperature, the microbial growth is going to be quite accelerated,” says Quoc Le. “Most modern refrigerators move heat fairly quickly. So ultimately, you don’t want to leave things on the stove for too long and have it come to room temperature.”

The rule of thumb is to avoid leaving perishable foods out for two hours or more, but you need to consider the environment they’re in. If you live in a hot, humid climate or if it’s a warm summer day, food is going to spoil faster. Certain foods aren’t going to go bad as quickly as others.

For example, “foods that have more acidity, more salt, or are high in sugars tend to be more resistant to microorganisms because they have a really hard time growing in things like that,” says Quoc Le. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that leftover food in the fridge should be reheated to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and ready-to-eat foods to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Soups, sauces, and gravies must come to a boil.

3. Clean up spills and throw away bad leftovers

Per the FDA, clean up spills as soon as they happen to avoid cross-contamination of bacteria from different foods. You also want to avoid “overpacking” your fridge to allow cool air to circulate and keep foods chilled at the right temp. When it comes to leftovers, meat products and dishes with vegetables are usually good for two to three days, Quoc Le says. “Again, things that have acidity and high sugar and salt content are going to be more resistant to spoilage, so you could probably extend that to six to seven days,” he explains.

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FoodNutrition

Looking for a Nutritionist? This Online Service Makes It Easier Than Ever to Work With an RD

Fay Nutrition is on a mission to make nutritionists more accessible to Americans. We tried out the service—here is our honest review.

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Published Jan 29, 2025

Written by 

Christina Manian, RD

Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission

As a registered dietitian (RD) with more than a decade of experience, I’ve worked in a range of healthcare settings over the years— from inpatient hospitals and outpatient clinics to private practices—and the one issue that continues to plague all of these establishments is lack of insurance coverage for nutrition consultation.

Experts in This Article

Jason Rasmussen

Jason Rasmussen, Co-founder and CEO of Fay Nutrition

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While patients in a hospital can typically seek the counsel of an RD as part of their stay, many won’t be able to continue that care once they go home as insurance coverage in outpatient and private practice settings is hard to come by. If clients do have coverage, it’s often for a very limited amount of sessions (around two per year maximum) Given that proper nutrition is one of the primary ways to prevent several types of chronic diseases, working with a nutritionist on healthy eating habits is something that almost all adults could benefit from.

Thankfully, one company has made it their mission to address these long-standing issues for patients and nutrition professionals alike…and that company is Fay Nutrition. As an RD, I tested this online service to get firsthand insight into how it works, what it offers, and if it’s worth trying.

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What is Fay Nutrition?

Fay Nutrition is an online platform that connects board-certified registered dietitians/nutritionists (RDs and RDNs) to individuals through insurance-covered virtual or in-person appointments. It’s also the nation’s biggest and fastest-growing network of dietitians.

Fay was started by Jason Rasmussen, co-founder and CEO of Fay Nutrition. “Both my mom and sister are registered dietitians, and before starting at Harvard Business School, I was helping them with their private practice,” he said. “What I learned was that many dietitians struggled to accept insurance and open a private practice, yet so many people needed the help of an affordable, personal dietitian.”

Rasmussen soon made it his mission to empower RDs and make medical nutrition therapy more affordable and accessible to Americans. “In America, over half of adults1 have one or more preventable conditions linked to eating patterns, but access to nutrition care has been gate-kept by prohibitively high costs and obstacles for dietitians to accept insurance,” he explained. The company aims to help millions of Americans live longer, healthier, and happier lives through the power of nutrition.

My Experience Using Fay Nutrition

A platform linking you to RDs that take your insurance certainly sounds alluring, but what is it actually like to use? Here’s how my test run went.

Given that I was trying the platform on a demo, I was given a special link with an accompanying payment method to use upon signing up. For at-home users, you’d sign up as you would for any other service, inputting your basic personal and payment information (for co-pays if you have any). You then enter your health insurance information. If you don’t have health insurance, your journey on the platform will end here as it hinges upon this prerequisite.

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From there, it offered me a list of RDs to choose from based on my location, insurance company, and primary nutrition concern. With each listed RD, you can read a little bit about their philosophy and what areas of nutrition they specialize in.

The first RD I chose wasn’t actually available to see new clients—which was a little confusing, to be honest—but the next one I picked was. However, even though available for both virtual and in-person appointments, this next RD was located in Connecticut—a very long drive from my home in Colorado for an in-person session. If I hadn’t been looking for a virtual appointment, this would have required additional time and searching to find a Colorado-based RD.

Thankfully, virtual worked for me, so I went with the Connecticut-based RD and was able to get an appointment within a week of booking, which is impressive given that many outpatient and private practice RDs are booked out for weeks (if not longer). Booking was simple and I received plenty of helpful email communication after the fact, sharing everything I needed to know before the appointment, as well as frequent appointment reminders. Logging into my appointment was just as simple—I clicked the Zoom link in the email and entered right into the meeting.

My RD was very competent with an impressive 25 years of experience working in a range of settings with a variety of patients. She did all the right things when it came to an initial consultation: inquiring about my medical history, family history, basic biometrics, typical eating patterns, activity level, and more. She then offered very sound nutrition advice (I opted to receive general nutrition information) that was catered to me, recommending balanced eating practices that included all the major food groups (in line with my dietary preferences) to provide the correct amount of macro- and micronutrients.

We also had a candid conversation about who I was and what I was up to. This RD had nothing but positive things to say about working with Fay as a long-time professional in the field. She explained how Fay took care of all the behind-the-scenes insurance work, freeing up RDs to see more clients and often landing patients several covered appointments. This has allowed her to have long-standing relationships with Fay clients, making an even bigger impact on their health through nutrition therapy.

She shared several Fay client success stories with me and assured me that she was being compensated competitively by the company—all things I love to hear as an RD who supports other RDs.

Final Thoughts

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Pros and Cons of Fay Nutrition

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use
  • Accessible, no matter your location
  • Works seamlessly with your insurance provider

Cons:

  • Fewer options for in-person appointments
  • Only accessible for those with insurance
Find a Nutritionist
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Overall, I think Fay Nutrition is providing a great service for both RDs and patients. Throughout my career, I’ve seen time and time again how problematic a lack of insurance coverage for nutrition services can be for those who need it.

Fay addresses this by doing the grunt work for users and dietitians—a middleman that serves both sides. This enables more Americans (with health insurance) to receive nutrition care, while also empowering RDs to build up their businesses. The company also has an extensive vetting process for new hires (according to the RD I spoke to), ensuring that only experienced and well-qualified providers are featured on the platform.

So if you’re seeking nutrition consultation and have health insurance, it’s more than worth logging onto Fay to see what your options are. It’s far quicker and less frustrating than calling your insurance company for coverage confirmation and then doing additional leg work to find covered RDs in your area.

  1. Buttorff C, Ruder T, Bauman M. Multiple Chronic Conditions in the United States. Rand Corp.; 2017.

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