Warmer weather brings out the sociable nature of everyone. Summer brings the desire to go to concerts and BBQs, plan beach trips, and eat outdoors. With more social activities comes the desire to have even more fun. This month, we’ll share tips to help you balance your social life with your health goals and make the most of summer.
Prioritize your routine
A full schedule often disrupts routines like sleep, exercise, and grocery shopping. Treat these routines like any other important event: During busy weeks, use a service like Instacart to save time on grocery shopping for the week, schedule events earlier to ensure you get enough sleep, and find new times for exercise if your usual timeslots are filled.
Don’t skip meals
Busy schedules can lead you to skip meals or try to “save” for a big event later in the day. These strategies backfire, causing you to overeat and lose control over your food. If you choose to drink alcohol at an event, you have even more reason to optimize your intake before you drink. When you drink alcohol, your metabolic system temporarily shuts down in favor of eliminating the alcohol you ingested. Until the drink is metabolized, everything you eat is stored as fat.
Our suggestion is to start your morning with 12 to 16 ounces of water along with a protein-heavy breakfast like scrambled eggs, spinach, and avocado. Short on time in the morning? Make a protein smoothie. Choose a lunch that combines protein and veggies.
If you find yourself feeling hungry before an event, have a nutritious snack like Greek yogurt and berries, or veggies and hummus, so you don’t arrive at your event with an “E.”
Choose a balanced diet of snacks and nutritious foods
If you do indulge in a summer treat like ice cream, enjoy it after a veggie-heavy meal with plenty of protein, and consider starting small — treats are rarely eaten when you’re truly hungry, so choose the smallest portion offered.
Rethinking sugary alcoholic drinks
As a rule of thumb, as the number of ingredients in a cocktail increases, so do the calories and sugar content. Stick to simple drinks like wine, clear liqueur, or light beer. If you’re hosting, offer lighter versions of summer classics, like our reinterpretation of the Pina Colada. Bonus tip: Alternate each alcoholic drink with a glass of water.
This summer, making intentional choices will be much more beneficial than swinging from extremes to restriction. Use your social plans as an opportunity to blend fun and nutrition. Your choices don’t have to be perfect; try a balanced approach for a more sustainable summer lifestyle.
A new interpretation of the Pina Colada
Created: 1.
material:
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• 1 ounce coconut rum
• Regular carbonated water or club soda
• ice
direction:
1. Combine 1/2 cup pineapple juice and 1 ounce coconut rum. Pour over ice and top off with a little sparkling water or club soda.
To make a blended drink, combine pineapple juice, coconut rum, and ice in a blender, adjusting the amount of ice to achieve the consistency you desire.
