With all of your favorite summer activities comes a lot of unhealthy eating. Cotton candy at the county fair, deep-fried candy bars at amusement parks, and hotdogs at the ballpark all sound delicious, but it can be terrible for your waistlines. Fortunately, there are other healthy options.
Summer is definitely the time of bathing suits; unfortunately, some of your summer eating habits can make fitting into your swimwear a challenge. Sometimes the heat keeps people indoors when they should be going for a jog. Or the longer days keep individuals eating and snacking longer. And let’s not forget that summer is the perfect time to indulge (or overindulge) in favorite cool treats like ice cream and popsicles. Luckily, there is a Mindful solution.
Avoid gaining those summer pounds by watching what you eat.
Here is a list of unhealthy summer foods for which you can substitute with Mindful treats:
- Swap your snow cones for watermelon desserts: Snow cones are simple, just ice shavings and flavored syrup, but they can also be unhealthy. One two-ounce serving contains no nutritional value, 170 calories, and 41grams of sugar (that’s 8 grams more than a 12 ounce can of cola). Swap this summer staple with tropical watermelon sorbet. It’s made with one seedless watermelon, pineapple juice, ginger ale, and lime juice. It has vitamin C and vitamin A and makes a delicious chilled treat.
- Substitute barbequed ribs for grilled kabobs: Barbequed ribs are finger licking good, but they can stick to your waistline. Pork ribs are fine in moderation as they contain nutrients like vitamin D, vitamin E, potassium, and magnesium. But it also contains 34 percent of the amount of cholesterol recommended daily. And then there’s the barbeque sauce. Only two tablespoons contain 50 calories and 11 grams of sugar. Instead of barbequing, consider grilling kabobs with red peppers, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, zucchini, and meat substitute. It’s yummy and nutritional.
- Replace traditional funnel cakes with a healthier version: Funnel cakes are commonly found at fairs and carnivals. They’re tasty treats, but not exactly healthy. A paper-plate-sized funnel cake contains 760 calories and 44 grams of fat. Finding a healthy alternative to funnel cakes can be a challenge when you’re out and about. But you can make your own healthy version at home. This recipe is made with wheat flour, low-fat milk, and canola oil, which make a lighter dessert (you can also use Splenda instead of sugar). For toppings use fresh fruit, a healthier alternative to powdered sugar and whipped cream.
- Exchange your lemonade for a glass of lightly sweetened tea: There’s nothing more refreshing in the summer than a tall glass of lemonade. But lemonade can have between 200- 350 calories and 43-85 grams of sugar. Consider sweet alternatives like flavored water or lightly sweetened iced tea, which is full of antioxidants.