Hip and Healthy in Humidity…

outdoor kidsSummertime is short and the perfect time to spend outdoors. Should we wait and put off starting a healthy way of eating until September? Or should we simply work our menu to include all that we love by upping the quality of what we eat? Potato, pasta and rice salads are usually filled with mayonnaise. Why not substitute olive oil and one of the many interesting vinegars available now on the market. My personal favorite is pear infused white balsamic vinegar. Not only will this choice avoid the risk of food spoiling in the heat, you will Outdoor quinoagive yourself a healthy dose of Omega 3 from olive oil and feed the probiotics in your intestines with the vinegar. Substitute sweet potatoes for white potatoes and at the same time receive the benefit of a shot of vitamin A as well as beta-carotene. Try using whole grain pasta, brown rice and quinoa instead of their white counterparts. Check out one of the many organic frankfurters available now without food coloring or preservatives. Use a good quality organic beef or turkey for your burgers. “Organic outdoor ice teaPrairie” is just one of the many new companies working towards eliminating food dyes and preservatives. Try mixing tuna or salmon salads with avocados, a little mustard and some dried cranberries. Boil a big pot of tea add fresh lemons, limes, oranges, fresh mint and sweeten with Stevia (taken from sunflower leaves) or Xylitol ( derived from wood pulp) and chill. However, it’s a good idea to steer clear of the instant versions which are usually filled with artificial flavors, sugar and colorings. Buying seltzer water and adding these sweeteners can also fill the need for a sweet drink instead of a cola. Cut up fresh fruit especially melons if you are invited to a friend’s outdoor melonsbarbecue or gathering and would like to bring something. Sweet mangos and watermelons can be as sweet as some sorbets and as satisfying. Of course, just because food is made with healthy and nutritious ingredients does not mean that it is always low calorie. Pace yourself. Moderation and mindfulness are still something to strive towards. And the ultimate key to any healthy meal is P&P=PLANNING AND PREPARATION!