I love summer. It’s
such a great time of the year, even if it gets a little hot for my
preferences. This has been a great
summer with the weather, a good amount of rain keeping things green and not too
many scorchers.
Not only do I enjoy the various festivals and concerts
available, there are several healthy lifestyle benefits during the summer. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a big
plus. For extra fresh, in season
produce, find a Farmer’s Market for a local selection. I’m a big salad eater in the summer, changing
the bowl up as things like cherries and mangos get cheap. Heck, those make great healthy snacks on
their own, as well as kicking a salad up a notch. My last blog was about the variety of
exercise opportunities as the days are nice.
The delayed sunset can mean walks after dinner, the dogs love that for
sure! And let’s not forget organized
sports, both for you and little ones.
Time in the evening spent inside during the winter is out and about in
the summer. So much fun!
Summer brings some caution flags too. Let me bring a couple of those to your
attention, and how to combat them. One
is hydration. That’s right, you need to
drink more water (I know this may sound like a broken record but it’s super
important). Even if you aren’t out in
the sun, the hot days can dehydrate you quickly. I end up with about another water bottle full
(mine is a liter) of water per day when it gets toasty, and that’s on the
conservative side. Feel free to add
fruit or veggies to the water if it helps you drink it and not get bored. Favorites of mine include lemon, strawberry
or cucumber. Speaking of those foods,
they are naturally full of water, so not a bad idea to include them in your
diet, perhaps as a snack? Watermelon and
cantaloupe salad anyone?
Another cautionary tale is that of the BBQ parties. Summer is grill season, and many people get
together around the patio tables or picnic benches and eat some awesome
food. Personal experience tells me the
staples tend to be meat with bun, chips, potato salad, fruit and cookies or
cake. Yummy stuff, but can be damaging
to the waistline when done often. You’ll
notice the lack of a green (or any) vegetable on this list. When you are asked to bring something, offer
to bring a green salad or veggie tray.
This will give you at least one super healthy option and put you in
control of your meal. Pick the fruit as
your dessert and you’ve made some pretty decent choices. Watch the booze too, if that’s your
thing. Alternate water with an adult
beverage to help you stay hydrated.
Summer is fun!! Enjoy
it with your friends and family with lots of water and fresh food for a healthy
time!!
