Summer is almost here, which means cookout season is on its way, too.
Avoid overeating and keep the summer cookouts healthy by following these five tips:
- Don’t skip meals in anticipation for the cookout. Continue with your normal eating schedule. If the cookout isn’t until noon, then make sure that you’ve already eaten breakfast. Never go hungry.
- Make sure to have healthy non-starchy vegetables on your plate. By making half of your plate a non-starchy vegetable, prepared in a healthy way, you will have less room on your plate, and stomach, for the higher calorie items.
- If you’re not hosting the cookout and you know the healthy options will be scarce, then bring a healthy dish. You may be the only one to eat it, but at least you were able to keep your meal nutritious.
- Avoid sugary drinks. It’s summer, take advantage of nice, cold water. Not only will it help with hydration, it’s also calorie free.
- Eat sensibly and take your time. There are plenty of cookouts in the summer. Enjoy yourself, but don’t overdo it. I’m Erica Freeman with the Church Health Center.
If you have question for WKNO's Life Matters, please write to health@wkno.org