Stay On Track This Memorial Day
May 25, 2009 by Deb · Leave a Comment
Happy Memorial Day weekend to everyone! I would guess that most of us have been faced this weekend (or will be today) with a holiday weekend event centered on eating and drinking. It can be a difficult proposition trying to maintain a healthy, balanced food plan when you are faced with creamy potato salad, BBQ spareribs, double chocolate brownies and margaritas!
It IS possible though to make good choices when attending food-centered get-togethers, AND it is crucial that if you do/did overindulge this weekend that you pick yourself right back up and get back on a plan. Remember, eating nutritiously and being calorie-conscious is not a sprint that you are trying to win and then be done with…it is a lifestyle choice for the long haul. So one weekend of overindulging shouldn’t change the hard work you have put in to maintaining your health or the way you live going forward.
In terms of healthy choices, one of my favorite things about summertime and picnics is the grill! Food is often a part of summer parties and events, but the silver lining is there are tons of ways to cook healthy on the grill. One of my absolute favorites is kabobs. They are so easy to make and a great low-fat meal alternative. Just skewer some chicken, shrimp, or beef and throw on some veggies like red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and zucchinis. Brush with a low fat marinade and they are delicious.
You can also just grill vegetables by themselves. They make a great side dish at a family BBQ. I cut up broccoli, carrots, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, green beans, colored peppers, and red potatoes. Stick them in a large zip lock bag and marinate in low calorie Italian salad dressing for a few hours. Toss them in a grill basket and grill them up – it’s a family favorite for us. Fill your plate with grilled vegetables so you won’t be tempted to take extra servings of the more fat-laden, high-calorie dishes.
Sweet potato wedges are another great healthy side dish. Slice your sweet potato into wedges, brush lightly with olive oil and season with sea salt. Grill on tin-foil (the new non-stick tin-foil works well) and they are terrific.
And don’t forget that fruit often grills well too! Fresh pineapple, peaches or plums sliced in half or into thick slices are sweet and healthy treats after they have been grilled slightly.
Another tip when it comes to these gatherings is to always take something that is healthy. This way if there is nothing else there that is on your program you know that you will have at least one healthy choice and you will be surprised how many people will actually thank you!
If you have overindulged or do end up giving into temptation today, get right back on track tomorrow. Up your activity for the next few days and try to double the amount of fruits and vegetables you are eating for the rest of the week. The most important thing is not to beat yourself up about it…much of staying healthy and fit is mental. Fueling your mind with negative thoughts about how you failed will do no good!
Enjoy the rest of the day!
Deb