My idea of a great summer Saturday is an early power walking
workout with Chanel at the Art Museum. Summer eating especially while on
vacation is something we all look forward to.
There are those special foods that most of us associate with happy
summer times. But without some planning
it’s easy to pack on the pounds. So here
are my summer eating tips that can keep vacation fun and keep you healthy.
Conscious Eating: This is essential so that you are aware
of everything that’s going in your mouth and can plan accordingly. If you eat consciously, you’ll actually
enjoy your food more and can plan for treats without sabotaging yourself
by overdoing it.
Traveling: Car trips can be a caloric disaster. It’s so easy to stop at every convenience
store or fast food restaurant along the way.
Instead, pack a cooler with healthy snacks of nuts, fruits, granola and
bottles of water. If you want those French
fries on the Boardwalk later, why not make sensible choices earlier in the day?
Breakfast: I can’t stress enough how important breakfast
is on vacation. Having a good first meal
(and I don’t mean the pancake house every day) will give you energy and prevent
the extreme hunger that can lead to making poor food choices. This is
especially true for beach-goers. Do not
head to the beach without eating. You
can become dehydrated and feel lightheaded from having no fuel in your
body. The risk is that you’ll be so
hungry that you pounce on the first hot dog or ice cream cone you see when you
leave the beach. Eating a piece of
fruit, some cereal or yogurt in the morning is the way to go.
Barbecues:
I just love a great summer barbecue; hanging out with friends,
family and eating that smoky, grilled food.
Be conscious of the menu and make your choices wisely. Have a burger, but opt for a turkey burger,
if possible, and think about skipping the roll.
Eat the veggies, green salad and watermelon and be conservative with
potato or macaroni salads made with mayonnaise.
There is nothing wrong with having a taste of everything but don’t
overload your plate. This isn’t your
last supper. Leave the party feeling
good, not feeling like “Get me to the couch, I’m so stuffed I can’t breathe!”
Drinking: We forget that beverages can be sugary
and very fattening. Limit alcoholic
beverages like Pina Colada"s to special occasions. They taste wonderful, but are extremely
high in empty calories. Soft drinks
with sugar are really liquid candy.
Even some of those flavored iced coffees are loaded with hidden
fats and calories. A big glass of
unsweetened ice tea with lemon, orange or mint leaves is a good way to
enjoy a cool refreshing drink. And
drink plenty of water, as it will cool you down and hydrate the body
especially during a workout.
6.
Exercise:
If you have been working out all winter, terrific. But if not, summer is the perfect time to get
started. So have your favorite Kohr
Brother’s custard. But burn off the
calories. Walk, swim or join my
ShapelyGirl Workout classes. As I tell my clients: Get off the couch. Move, breathe and transform yourself.
Debra Mazda,
M.Ed. is an Exercise Physiologist, Certified Personal Trainer and President of
ShapelyGirl Fitness™, a motivational fitness company which includes workout
DVD’s, inspirational CD’s, and an online community (www.debramazda.com). Debra
lost 140 pounds 25 years ago by embracing exercise and healthy eating. E-mail her debramazda@live.com
