Summer is here and it’s time for America’s favorite past-times- outdoor barbeques, trips to the beach and pool parties.  Wherever you go, the motto is to do it up!  Big, cheesy burgers, mounds of deep fried chips, liters of sugary sodas, artificially colored popsicles and towers of brownies flood the picnic table.  We justify this as OK because summer is for fun, a time to reward ourselves with treats.  I use the word “treats” loosely because the word itself implies we don’t get them often.  But here’s the real 365 day calendar most party people follow before the Summer-o-Excess even begins.

·         Labor Day- picnic but with more beer

·         Halloween- candy overload                                                         

·         Thanksgiving- overstuffed                                                

·         December- holiday parties                                           and don’t forget…

·         Christmas- cookies & cakes                                              birthday parties

·         New Year’s Eve- excess everything                                  movie nights

·         Valentine’s- chocolates                                                     sports parties

·         Easter- secret candy & chocolates                                    just for fun parties

·         End-o-Year School goodies                                                office parties

The list proves we certainly don’t go without “treats”.  There is no balance in this type of excessive eating lifestyle.  If you are shocked and perhaps slightly disgusted with the amount of unhealthy, bad fat, high sugar, high salt, processed and preserved foods you and your family might consume in just one year, simply make a change!  It doesn’t have to rock the boat, but make some healthy waves of change.

Remember. You can’t control many things in your life but you do control 100% of what you put in your mouth.   Here are some easy ideas for powerful results for your next summer feast.

1.       Grill seasoned veggies and portabella mushrooms to use less meat and make tasty fajitas as a substitute for burgers

2.       Bake sweet potato steak fries with olive oil, sea salt and rosemary or use sweet potato chips in a pinch

3.       Add fresh mint, lime (or any other fresh citrus slices) or berries to make chilled water a fancy treat.  (Thirsty people will try anything on a hot summer day, especially if the soda and beer are not around.)

4.       Try fresh or frozen berries, peaches, bananas or mangoes drizzled with agave nectar or sprinkled with dark chocolate shavings.

5.       Label the drinkware with names- it makes us more mindful of the number of times we refill our drinks and it’s environmentally respectable

Summer is surely rejuvenating for your mind and spirit, but for true happiness you need a body that feels equally refreshed.  Remember- don’t view being healthy as restrictive when there are thousands of delicious ways to enjoy nourishing foods.  Getting healthier is a journey, not a destination.  So, good luck and enjoy the ride!