What could be better than having the summer right around the corner? The warm weather, the sun shining, the patios booming and the BBQs sizzling! There is a downside to all this fun time though… Our choice of food. Do we take the time to eat properly and healthy? Not always and that’s why we can help you make better choices.
Here are some tips for you to follow so you avoid gaining 10 lbs over the summer.
PATIOS AND COCKTAIL PARTIES:
Summertime is often the occasion to meet up with our friends for a refreshing drink on a patio. But do we know what are the healthiest choices to make? Here are some practical ideas in order to combine health and fun. First of all, you need to know that alcohol = sugar!! Alcohol contains an energetic density of 7 kcal/g once ingested, that’s almost equivalent to the energetic density of a lipid, which is 9kcal/g.
The problem is that alcohol can be unconsciously ingested in large quantity. A glass of beer can contain about 200 kcal. And usually, people will rarely stop after drinking only one drink!! Therefore, we need to choose lower calorie content drinks, like wine or clear alcohol, for example vodka or tequila.
Also, it’s important to avoid sugary juices, colas or energy drinks which contain a lot of sugar and are harmful for your health. It’s better to choose tonic or tomato juice because they contain less sugar, therefore are lower calories!
It’s also recommended to avoid exotic cocktails like daiquiris or margaritas. If you have a craving for exotism, go for a mojito and specify to add less sugar. For beer fanatics, several popular brands carry low calorie beers, that way you can still enjoy the taste of beer without the usual calorie content.
If someone offers you a nice glass of Sangria, go ahead, but accept only one!
BBQs:
If the Happy Hour on the patio is followed by an invitation to a BBQ afterwards, make the right choice! We suggest that you choose hamburgers because it’s more nutritious.
The meat patties are rich in protein and you can add as many vegetables as you want. Avoid to smother the meat in mayonnaise. Choose mustard instead, it contains no calories.
If the menu is a bit more elaborate and you can choose a brochette, jump on the opportunity! Grilled meat is excellent for you and is also filling, you won’t constantly need to grab chips from the side bowl next to you.
Always fill your plate with as many vegetables as possible, and eat them raw preferably, without the dip please! Vegetable dip is often made with mayonnaise, sour cream or 35% cream, these ingredients are all rich in saturated fat.
If you’re hosting, don’t hesitate to offer humus with the vegetables because humus is a dip that is low in fat and very rich in vegetable protein. It is made of chickpeas, a leguminous plant very good for your health.
Avoid rice and potatoes, they are rich in glucide, therefore high in calories. These foods, called starchy foods, will quickly fill your stomach and will give you the impression that you had enough to eat. But on the contraire, soon after the meal, your stomach will feel empty and you will have the reflex of snacking some more.
Glucides are digested quickly in order to give your body the glucose it needs to perform all its metabolic activities. Even if the body is resting, the glucose still stock in glycogen and stay in the layers of your skin. This is the last thing we want, right? To avoid all that, stay away from those salivating starchy foods!
We wish you a wonderful summer filled with fun and remember, moderation always tastes better!