Healthy Summer Eating

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - With school out, schedules may relax along with healthy eating and activity habits built during the school year. After all, with hot dogs and pizza at sporting events, ice cream and snacks at the pool and frequent barbecues, poor food choices with added calories and fat can add up fast. Be smart this summer about keeping your calories and waistline in check.

1. Keep to a regular meal schedule. It’s hard to control your food choices when you’ve skipped breakfast and had a bad of chips for lunch.

2. Pack your lunch (and breakfast if needed) if you’re heading out the door early. Bring healthy snacks like fresh fruit for a snack if you know dinner is going to be delayed.

3. Plan what you’re going to have for dinner instead of “planning” on getting take-out or making a fast food run. The crock-pot works just as well in the summer… chicken or beef can be slow cooked with barbecue sauce or Mexican spices and a can of seasoned tomatoes. When dinner comes, try soft or hard tacos or easy barbecue sandwiches. Meals like this save time and money and calories.

4. Keep a strict eye on what foods and beverages are brought into the house. Chips, cookies, and crackers are easy targets if the day is spent inside watching television or playing video games. Keep healthier options like fresh fruit, roasted chickpeas, dry cereal, granola bars (without chocolate), or even pudding or Jell-O snacks on hand. Soda and juice can add extra unneeded calories so keep these items for special occasions only (once per month).

5. Take advantage of local foods from your farmer’s market. Try making visiting the market a family affair for everyone to pick a different or favorite vegetable to eat during the next week. If not for the farmer’s market, my family may have never realized how delicious Asian greens or baby bok choy is. Most vegetables can easily be washed and then roasted in a 400 degree F oven for 30-45 minutes. The vegetables can then be used as a filling for enchiladas or pureed into a delicious soup or eaten cold as a main entrée or side salad. Freeze any leftovers and use as a delicious reminder of summer days next fall or winter.

6. Keep your activity up. Be sure to be active everyday. Whether it’s gardening or taking the dog for a walk, it’s important to build your healthy lifestyle everyday.

Make summer the healthiest one yet by staying active and making smart food choices.