Healthy Tips for Summer Eating

Summertime screams BEACHBODY, BIKINIS, SUN TANS!  Well, if you're anything like me, I always say I'll start working on my summer bod after the holidays...but somehow I never really get my summer body in check.  That's because LIFE happens.  Inevitably, you'll get invited to all those summer kickoff parties; the BBQs, the mixers, the pool parties, all of which seem to have an exhaustive list of UNHEALTHY treats.  But, here's the kicker...

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE UNHEALTHY!

There are soooo many ways to make sure you don't go overboard with your summer celebrations.  That's right, you can still celebrate, have all the fun, and stay relatively on track with your diet!  Here are some tips for sticking with your health and wellness plan during the summer months.

When drinking alcohol, stick to 1-2 drinks MAX.  Drinking too much not only adds to empty calories, but can cause you to snack and overeat without realizing you're doing it.

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A lot of the empty calories consumed at a BBQ are from the condiments, namely the BBQ sauce.  Most store-bough BBQ sauces are packed full of SUGAR!  Making your own homemade BBQ sauce is simple, much healthier, and just as tasty.  Check out the homemade BBQ sauce recipe below!

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When in doubt, stick to the basics.  BBQs are made up of some kind of protein and side dishes.  Choose the healthiest options available.  Just because there's a massive spread fo a gazillion dishes doesn't mean you have to eat all of them.  Play it safe and choose a protein and vegetable.  Stick to veggies that aren't covered in a mayo sauce or other high calorie dressing.  When it comes to dessert, choose the beautiful watermelon slices over the red, white, and blue cupcakes.  If you're having burgers or hotdogs, try making a bunless salad using the veggie set and your homemade BBQ sauce.

And there you have a few simple tricks to help you stay on track with your health and wellness goals while still enjoying the fun of summer.  Here's a quick and easy BBQ sauce recipe to whip up.  Load it up in a mason jar with a ribbon and it makes a great hostess gift!

✨ Homemade BBQ Sauce ✨
 
Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2½  tsp ground chili powder
• ¼ tsp ground paprika
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1, 8 oz can tomato paste
• 1/4 cup water
• ¼ cup raw honey
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1½ tsp liquid smoke (optional)

 
Heat oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute. Add chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper; cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute. Add tomato paste, water honey, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke (if desired); cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.