Sumer Barbeques= weight gain, or does it?

The summer time finds us all going to weekend barbeque's at friends, dinner's out, picnics, and vacations. It's so hard to eat well at these events...or is it?

I'd like to provide all of you with a few quick tips on how to eat clean, but still enjoy yourself where-ever you are.

Alcohol:

First, we all know alcohol is nutritionally void. But that never seems to keep people from imbibing. So, rather than give it up...why not make some smart choices?

The easiest is switching to light beer which can save between 30 and 60 calories per bottle. That doesn't seem like much, but consider someone who drinks 4 or 5 beers over the course of an evening; the switch to light beer could save as much as 300 calories (the same as about a half hour of jogging on the treadmill).

Rather than drinking wine, shoot for a white wine spritzer. By mixing a half a glass of wine with seltzer, you'll save around 30 calories.

Avoid frozen drinks like margaritas. These are ALL sugar, with hundreds of calories.

Choose liquor on the rocks, or splashed with tonic, rather than mixed with tonic. You'll save dozens of calories here.

Food Choices:

Picnics and barbecue's are havens for sugar, lard, and refined carbohydrates. From the frozen burgers, to the white buns, to the desert table...you might think it impossible to find a healthful meal. It's easier than you think.

First, avoid the buns. These have virtually no nutritional value. Choose to eat your protein's with a knife and fork. If possible, choose the grilled chicken, if no chicken go for steak, if no steak go for the burger. You should make your last choice the hot dog.

Second, avoid mayonnaise and side-dishes. Macaroni salad, potato salad, and cole-slaw (all picnic staples) are based in mayo. Mayo terrible for you; nothing more than cholesterol and fat.

Third, hit the vegetable platters and fruit platters. Stock up on all the veggies and fruit you can eat, while avoiding the ranch or blue cheese dips.

Last, exercise ALL possible restraint and AVOID THE DESERTS! Hit the fruit for a second helping. Desert is the killer, they're often a perfect storm of fat, carbs, and calories.

I know it's a holiday weekend...I wanted to keep this short.

Every time you reach for something you know you shouldn't eat, look down at your shoulder. I'll be sitting there...don't cheat yourself, make good choices. Trust me, you'll love yourself for it in the morning.

All the best,
BA

Fit2You Fitness, LLC
www.fit2youfitness.com
Philadelphia and Main-Line In Home Personal Training, Yoga, Nutrition and Corporate Health and Wellness