Tips for Healthy Summer Eating

Between backyard barbecues, trips to the beach, pit stops at your kids’ favorite fast food restaurants, and family vacations, eating healthy can be quite a challenge during the summer months. But with a little planning, you can continue to have fun in the sun while still enjoying wholesome, nutritious, and delicious food.

Here are 6 tips to help you and your family eat a little healthier during the glorious, golden days of summer.

1. Stock Your Kitchen – It’s a lot easier to eat healthy if you actually have healthy food on hand. So before you hit the grocery store, plan your meals and snacks for the week and your shopping list around them. Load up, for example, on healthier options for your summertime favorites, like turkey or chicken sausage or burgers.

2. Prep for the Week – Wash, slice, and pack your fruits and veggies into snack-size portions that you can easily grab on the go all week long.

3. Don’t Go Hungry – Whether you’re heading to the pool or the amusement park, eat a filling, nutritious breakfast so you aren’t tempted to load up on junk food as soon as you arrive.

4. Be Prepared on the Go – Pack snacks that are healthy and portable for your outings. Try hummus and sliced veggies, cut up fresh fruit, and trail mix. Instead of hitting the drive-thru, try a home-made wrap.

5. Stay Hydrated – When you feel like you’re getting hungry, especially shortly after you’ve just eaten, drink a glass of water instead. People often mistake hunger for thirst, summer or otherwise. Don’t like plain water? Add sliced lemon, watermelon, or cucumber for a tasty, refreshing alternative.

6. Everything in Moderation – You don’t have to be a party-pooper in order to eat healthy. Enjoy those warm weather treats, but do so in moderation. Have that flame-grilled burger, but opt for a whole wheat bun and pile on the veggies. And don’t forget to stay active.

Unfortunately, summer is also that time of year when bottled water sales go through the roof even though bottled water is an ecological disaster – plus, a big percentage of bottled water options are no healthier than the water from your own kitchen faucet. So instead, get every member of your family a re-usable water bottle and, just before leaving the house, fill them with ice and water from your faucet or fridge water and ice maker. Of course, if you still feel like bottled water is healthier, then contact Your 1 Plumber about installing a whole-house or point-of-use water filter in your home.  That way, you can rest assured that every drop of water you drink at home is as pure and healthy as can bet.