Healthy Suggestions for Summer Fun

With summer on it’s way I am sure you are getting excited for going to the beach, going on vacations and overall just having time to relax in the sun.  Yet with all the excitement summer brings, many of you spend a lot of time worrying about your beach bodies and vacation weight gain.  Doesn’t that defeat the point of the joy that summer brings?  Just because you have tons of graduation parties, barbeques and beach bashes coming up, it doesn’t mean you have to disregard your healthy lifestyle plan.

Here are some easy ways to stay healthy during the summer months!

·      Summer salads: Potato salad, coleslaw, macaroni salad, these are staples at most barbeques and so is the heaping amount of mayonnaise that usually finds it’s way into the recipe.  Try and moderate your portions of these salads, or opt for versions that use vinegars instead of mayonnaise.

·      Dip into something healthier: While onion dips and creamy ranch are delicious on vegetables and chips, the calories can add up pretty quickly.  Use nonfat, plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or flavored hummus for dips instead of regular sour cream and mayonnaise to get the same flavor without the saturated fats.  Or use guacamole for some healthy unsaturated fat!

·      Burger makeover: While there is nothing like a juicy burger off the grill, there can be a lot of hidden fat inside that patty.  Make sure you are using lean ground beef, or make a veggie burger using lentils or black beans to still get a hearty flavor.  Top with avocado instead of cheese for an extra nutrient boost!

·      Dessert Decisions: Balance is key when it comes to dessert selection at a summer party.  If you decided you wanted to eat some classic potato or macaroni salad, scale back on starchy, high fat desserts like cakes and cookies and opt for fruit salad.  There are so many delicious fruits in season in the summer and their juicy, good for you flavor is better than most store bought desserts anyway.  Try utilizing the grill and making fruit skewers out of pineapple, melons and cherries.  The heat from the grill will caramelize the natural sugars in the fruit for a sweet, savory and nutritious treat!

·      Easy Exercise: One of the best things about summer is that the nice weather begs for outdoor activities.  Whether you join a summer team for softball, play volleyball whenever you are the beach, or just start taking daily walks or runs in the gorgeous summer mornings and nights, it’s easy to increase your activity level and calorie burn when the weather is on your side!

Summer is a time for relaxation not worry, so as long as your mindful of balance in the foods you are choosing and remembering to stay active you’re sure to be healthy and look great doing it!