Today's post on eating well at summer barbecues comes from healthy-living blogger Emily Wax. To read more of her great tips head on over to her blog at www.eatventures.wordpress.com.
Slip on the shades - summer is officially here. And that means delicious backyard barbecues. Taking in the smell of grilling and watching the kids run through the sprinkler can restore your spirit. Unfortunately, the picnic table filled with food can also bust your diet. Don’t think you can stick to a healthy diet while still enjoying summer’s barbecues? Try these tips:
Make sure you bring something healthy to the table.
Luckily, backyard barbeques are a usually a pot-luck affair. You can’t control the healthfulness of other offerings, but you can ensure that what you bring is wholesome and nutritious. Try a quinoa salad packed with veggies – it’s great cold or at room temperature.
Skip mayo-drenched pasta salads.
Not only are these dishes calorie-heavy, they can spoil quickly if not kept at the proper temperature. Pass up the possible food poisoning in favor of a lightly dressed salad with fresh veggies.
Load up your plate with baked beans and fruit salad.
These dishes are full of fiber, which will help fill you up. Plus, what’s more delicious than juicy watermelon on a hot summer day?
Save the calories for what you really love
Before loading up your plate ask two questions. 1) Is this healthy? 2) Do I really, really love eating it? If the answer to both of those questions is no, skip it. I personally don’t think buns are all that tasty, so I always eat my turkey burgers naked. Unless it’s healthy or extra enjoyable it shouldn’t be on your plate.
Be choosey about dessert.
Life without dessert sounds pretty sad, but you don’t have to try one of everything. That’s why I allow myself dessert, but only a little, and only if I’m really going to be glad I ate it. If my grandmother makes 7-layer bars with homemade caramel sauce, you can bet I’m grabbing a plate. But boxed brownies with store bought icing? I’ll pass, even if they’re adorably decorated with red, white and blue.