Summer is filled with so many fun opportunities to get outdoors and relax. However, the summer months can bring on new food temptations that are difficult to fight. Vacations, ball games, amusement parks and maybe even bi-weekly visits to the local ice cream parlor. This is life!! This is summer!! Indulging and enjoying these summer treats should be part of the fun. But there are ways we can still enjoy all the summer fun and treats without sacrificing our health and our waistlines! Plan ahead! Tempting foods are harder to resist when you don’t have a plan. If you get too hungry at an event it can be very easy to fall for the foods high in fats and sugars. That’s why it is a good idea to map things out first.
Split the treats. Whether on vacation, at the beach or at a ball game, split the treats! Find someone in your family that will share a meal or dessert with you.
Let’s talk about a week at the beach. It’s easy to eat a healthy breakfast prior to hitting the beach and pack a healthy lunch for everyone to enjoy while at the beach. Dinner more than likely is out at a restaurant and then if you are like our family, we walk over to our favorite ice cream place for a sweet treat. If it is a glass of wine you enjoy at dinner and then would like ice cream later than pick a sensible dinner. For example, grilled chicken over a salad or maybe locally caught grilled fish served with the evenings vegetables. If you want to have a few extras on your ice cream go ahead-and then split the dessert with another family member.
Going to a game? Most stadiums now serve healthy options. It doesn’t mean you have to forgo a treat, just pick what it will be. Implement the same planning for a carnival or amusement park. If it is the funnel cake you’re after, eat a sensible meal prior to the event and then enjoy and indulge in your treat!
Other ways to plan include packing healthy snacks to curb your hunger. Low fat string cheese can be a tasty treat to munch on during the day. Celery sticks and carrots are both filling and give you something crunchy to enjoy. Or make your own trail mix.
If you are attending a barbeque bring your own healthy dish. You’ll know that there will be a healthy option for you and that way it will allow you to indulge consciously.
Don’t be afraid to treat yourself every now and then! Just be cautious of portions and this way you can enjoy summer and everything that comes with it.
