Summer Snacking

You might think the winter holiday season is the most dangerous time for your waistline, but summer may actually be the prime time for unwelcome weight to creep on. Between vacations, holidays and celebratory barbecues, unusual schedules and the heat, the summer months can totally derail an otherwise healthy lifestyle if you’re not careful.

Fear not! Here are some tips to help keep you on track.

Strategize – Failing to plan ahead can be detrimental to any healthy lifestyle plan (note: I did NOT say ‘diet‘), but with the irregularities summer schedules, or lack there of, can throw at us it can be even harder. If you have snacks pre-portioned and ready to go, you’re less likely to

Go Seasonal – One of the greatest things about the warmer months is the abundance of fresh produce. Fresh avocados, tomatoes, carrots and fruit are awesome staples for summer snack time. And the possibilities are endless! If you’re bored of dipping your apples in peanut butter, branch out. Frozen fruit is one of my all time favorite treats. My mom would put grapes and banana slices with toothpicks in the freezer for us to gnosh on during the warmer months. It seems more like a dessert than a healthy snack! You could even drizzle a bit of chocolate on top to take it up a notch.

Moderate – When you’re proportioning your snacks be sure you’re keeping the sizes reasonable. Over-doing it on the calories doesn’t help you take advantage of the benefits of snacking between meals! Be mindful of whether you’re actually hungry, or just eating because there’s food in front of you. And don’t forget to balance your snacks! Pairing a protein with your fruit or other carbohydrate based snack will help you feel more satisfied and give you more energy.

Indulge! – Don’t miss out on the delicious joys of barbecue and ice cream truck season. A pulled pork sandwich or milkshake here and there don’t have to be your enemy, and denying yourself the things you enjoy the most can end in overdoing it later. So don’t be afraid to treat yourself, especially if you’re doing well at staying active.

In The Summertime-For “Grownups”

A few weeks ago an acquaintance asked me what my summer plans were. I was a little bit taken aback by the question since for some time now summer hasn’t been much different from the rest of the year, other than the temperature. I mean, the months of June through August aren’t about sleeping in, spending the afternoon at the pool and taking family road trips anymore. I suppose part of that will change when I have kids of my own to take to the pool and on road trips, but at this point, summer is just the time of year when it’s warmest. The idea that summer isn’t special like it used to be kind of bummed me out, so I set to thinking about if I actually do have any thing going on this summer. And I’ve decided to MAKE some summer plans.

Grow something: For the past three years I’ve been telling myself I will plant something on my little apartment porch. And for three years I have failed. This weekend, I’m going to buy some herbs and see how long it takes me to kill them I can keep them alive!

Home improvement: There are always things that need to be done around the house that never seem to make it to the top of the list. I’m giving myself some home improvement projects that I’ll actually enjoy so I’ll be sure to get them done!

Get out and about: Another goal I’ve made for myself is to get out and go for a walk most days of the week. I’m going to see the sights, smell the scents, and get some Vitamin D. And for good measure and a change of scenery, I’m going to throw in a day trip to the mountains.

Summer foods: Every summer I make pico de gallo, guacamole, and salsa. I doubt that this year will be different, but I’m going to expand my horizons with new summer recipes. I’m going to try to do some pickling at home, and maybe I’ll be brave and try homemade ice cream.

What are you doing with your summer?