Generally, as the weather gets warmer, we wear less clothes, so as summer approaches, many people want to lose weight and get fit for the beach. Below are 7 healthy eating tips to help you lose weight during the summer months.
Tip #1: Fresh fruit is the #1 snack
Depending on where you live, you are likely to see a significant improvement in the quality of produce offered at your local grocery store during the summer months. Stock up on fruit once or twice a week. Take them to work, eat them as snacks and eat them for dessert.
I don’t know about you, but to me, a ripe mango tastes just as good, if not better, than a sugary candy or dessert. And fruit will always have far more vitamins, minerals, fiber and water than any sugary processed dessert that comes in a box or bag.
Weight Loss Tip #2: Eat a Salad Once a Day
Like fruits, vegetables are usually cooler during the summer months. When you stock up on fruits, stock up on vegetables too.
Making your own salad for lunch or dinner is a great way to add tons of fiber and minerals to your diet without adding tons of calories. Starting dinner with a salad is a great way to curb overeating and support weight loss.
Weight loss tip #3: watch out for cold drinks
On a hot summer day, it’s all too easy to reach for something cool and refreshing to drink, but be careful not to drink too many extra calories. Sweetened lemonade can contain more than 200 calories for a 12-ounce serving.
A can of ice cold Coke has about 140 calories per 12-ounce can. A 12-ounce cold beer has about 150 calories. And if you reach for a mixed drink like a cold piña colada while sitting on the beach, you’ll consume an additional 600 calories.
During hot summer days, try to stay hydrated with mostly water. Drinking mostly water is a great tip for losing weight during the summer.
Tip #4: Beware of Cold Desserts
Just like cold drinks, during the summer months it seems so easy to have an ice cream after dinner to cool down. Ice cream tastes good, but it can really wreak havoc on your waistline. An occasional treat is fine, but try not to get the fancy banana split with whipped cream, caramel, chocolate, fudge, and pecans. If you absolutely must have ice cream, consider sharing it with someone else or buy 1 dessert for a party of 4. Less is more.
Tip #5: Barbecue a little healthier
Barbecues are a part of summer that many people love, but a barbecue doesn’t have to be an excuse for you to get fed up with all the bad stuff. Consume little beef, cheese, French fries, coke and beer.
Consider sharing half a burger or skip the cheese. Always look for fresh vegetables and stick to one drink other than water.
Tip #6: Eat less when dining out.
First of all, I will say that preparing your own food will help you lose weight if you eat out frequently. But, when eating out during the summer months, try to eat a little less. You can reduce restaurant calories by eliminating one or more dishes.
Do you need bread, snacks, desserts and drinks? Ask if you can have the sauce on the side and try to order something tasty and a little healthy.
Tip #7: Try to eat 4-5 smaller meals throughout the day.
I know that many people rush to work without breakfast and often skip or eat a light lunch. Then at dinner it’s 1000 calories followed by another 500 calories for dessert. Your metabolism doesn’t like large meals. Try to eat 3-4 300-600 calorie meals and 1-2 100-200 calorie snacks throughout the day.
Hopefully, these simple eating tips will help you lose weight. Of course, if you really want to lose weight, you’ll also incorporate exercise. Walking is a great place to start, and adding weight training will give you a significant boost. Get started and stay strong.