HOW TO MAKE A SUMMER BBQ WORK FOR YOU
It's finally my favorite time of year... SUMMER!!! Woo hoo! The best part about summer is getting outside and enjoying the weather with friends and family. Complicating matters in a delicious way, tempting summer BBQs are simply amazing. Surrounded by tons of yummy food and booze, if unchecked, your diet can quickly run off the tracks. Keeping the extra pounds off while still indulging and enjoying yourself is the trick. Here are some tips to help you do just that!
1. Don't show up hungry - This is the number one reason people overeat at parties. Perhaps they know the'll be around a ton of good food and "save their calories," but that's not the way to do it. If you show up starving, you will be sure to over eat and make poor choices because you have convinced yourself you now deserve to indulge. Don't stuff yourself before you go, but make sure to eat good meals early in the day, so you don't show up with an huge appetite.
2. Easy on the apps - If you show up having eaten a little bit of healthy food already so you're not insatiable, this tip shouldn't be a huge problem. Appetizers are typically high in calories with many chips, dips and cheeses available. If you're hungry for something, go for the veggies. The good thing about BBQs is that there is usually a crudite. Take it easy on the apps and remember, there is still plenty of food on it's way!
3. Avoid sugary drinks - This one will always get you. Massive amounts of calories are hidden in those yummy, exciting, colorful, cold summer drinks. Avoid those drinks that are high in sugar and save your calories for the food.
4. Drink water - Drink plenty of water early in the day and while at the party. Sometimes thirst can give you the illusion of being hungry when really you just need water. Water will also help keep you full and help you to not overeat.
5. Protein, Protein, Protein - Once the main meal comes out, go for the protein. If your choices are hamburgers or hot dogs, scrap the bun and have double the protein. Or go California style and grab some lettuce for a bun. Any protein works for me from pulled pork, steak, burgers, chicken, ribs... whatever the protein is, that's what you want to fill up on! That and veggies. Which brings me to my next tip...
6. Eat your veggies! - Along with your protein, fill your plate with veggies. Lots of veggies! This will help to fill you up and they're so delicious. From salad to grilled veggies, there is usually something delicious to color your plate.
7. Pass on the the pasta - Skip the carbs. All of them - potato salad, mac and cheese, pasta, bread, etc. If there is something you just LOVE, then have it! Don't deprive yourself and just enjoy. BUT enjoy a taste. Take a little less than a serving and if you get up for seconds, resist putting more on your plate. For some this might be the hardest tip to follow, but if you're going to have a summer full of BBQs, you'll thank me later.
8. Play - Don't have food and booze be your focus. If you're outside, especially if kids are around, play! Start a game of waffle ball, have a catch, jump in the pool or on a trampoline. Do something active. If it's not that type of gathering, just focus on your friends and have a good laugh.
9. Dessert Tasting - The key work is TASTING. If you choose not to pass on dessert, just take a sample or a taste. Even if this means sharing a cookie or cutting into an already cut piece of cake or pie and taking a smaller piece for yourself, do it. If you're like me, you'll either make a laughable sample plate or just take bites from my man's plate and avoid the hassle. By this time, you should be full and have no need to eat a ton.
10. Have fun! - That's what summer is all about, so just enjoy! Don't get too wrapped up in the food and booze and enjoy what's most important - the company. HAPPY SUMMER!!!
CRUSH TIME!!!
It's finally my favorite time of year... SUMMER!!! Woo hoo! The best part about summer is getting outside and enjoying the weather with friends and family. Complicating matters in a delicious way, tempting summer BBQs are simply amazing. Surrounded by tons of yummy food and booze, if unchecked, your diet can quickly run off the tracks. Keeping the extra pounds off while still indulging and enjoying yourself is the trick. Here are some tips to help you do just that!
1. Don't show up hungry - This is the number one reason people overeat at parties. Perhaps they know the'll be around a ton of good food and "save their calories," but that's not the way to do it. If you show up starving, you will be sure to over eat and make poor choices because you have convinced yourself you now deserve to indulge. Don't stuff yourself before you go, but make sure to eat good meals early in the day, so you don't show up with an huge appetite.
2. Easy on the apps - If you show up having eaten a little bit of healthy food already so you're not insatiable, this tip shouldn't be a huge problem. Appetizers are typically high in calories with many chips, dips and cheeses available. If you're hungry for something, go for the veggies. The good thing about BBQs is that there is usually a crudite. Take it easy on the apps and remember, there is still plenty of food on it's way!
3. Avoid sugary drinks - This one will always get you. Massive amounts of calories are hidden in those yummy, exciting, colorful, cold summer drinks. Avoid those drinks that are high in sugar and save your calories for the food.
4. Drink water - Drink plenty of water early in the day and while at the party. Sometimes thirst can give you the illusion of being hungry when really you just need water. Water will also help keep you full and help you to not overeat.
5. Protein, Protein, Protein - Once the main meal comes out, go for the protein. If your choices are hamburgers or hot dogs, scrap the bun and have double the protein. Or go California style and grab some lettuce for a bun. Any protein works for me from pulled pork, steak, burgers, chicken, ribs... whatever the protein is, that's what you want to fill up on! That and veggies. Which brings me to my next tip...
6. Eat your veggies! - Along with your protein, fill your plate with veggies. Lots of veggies! This will help to fill you up and they're so delicious. From salad to grilled veggies, there is usually something delicious to color your plate.
7. Pass on the the pasta - Skip the carbs. All of them - potato salad, mac and cheese, pasta, bread, etc. If there is something you just LOVE, then have it! Don't deprive yourself and just enjoy. BUT enjoy a taste. Take a little less than a serving and if you get up for seconds, resist putting more on your plate. For some this might be the hardest tip to follow, but if you're going to have a summer full of BBQs, you'll thank me later.
8. Play - Don't have food and booze be your focus. If you're outside, especially if kids are around, play! Start a game of waffle ball, have a catch, jump in the pool or on a trampoline. Do something active. If it's not that type of gathering, just focus on your friends and have a good laugh.
9. Dessert Tasting - The key work is TASTING. If you choose not to pass on dessert, just take a sample or a taste. Even if this means sharing a cookie or cutting into an already cut piece of cake or pie and taking a smaller piece for yourself, do it. If you're like me, you'll either make a laughable sample plate or just take bites from my man's plate and avoid the hassle. By this time, you should be full and have no need to eat a ton.
10. Have fun! - That's what summer is all about, so just enjoy! Don't get too wrapped up in the food and booze and enjoy what's most important - the company. HAPPY SUMMER!!!
CRUSH TIME!!!
"We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same."
JULY MUSIC
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted"
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