I’m trying to hold on to this summer as long as I can. Pool time, outdoor adventures, grilling outside… I love it all so much. I feel like I’m getting a little cheated out of the summer ending, though. The weather seems to be unseasonably cool for this time of year. Knowing Oklahoma, it’s going to heat back up again. As much as I love socializing with friends by the pool, I don’t love the extra calories we take in from sipping cocktails all day long. Even just one drink opens the floodgate otherwise known as my appetite. I’m more likely to crave sweets, fried food, and other calorically dense snackies that don’t contribute wellness to my life.
Here are my top three tips for having fun without gaining a ton.
Water up!
Staying hydrated is super important, especially if you’re hanging out by the pool all day. Add citrus slices or berries into your water to give it natural flavor. Good rule of thumb: for every alcoholic drink, chug a glass of water of equal size.
Photo by Kaizen Nguyễn on Unsplash
Drink wisely
Skip the pre-made cocktail mix an make your own. Mix the juice from one lime and one grapefruit. Add about 2 tablespoons of agave (3 if you like your drinks a little sweeter) and you got yourself a margarita mix! Try to steer clear of sweetened sodas and sugary juices. They’ll just dehydrate you and add more calories. Watermelon also works great as a refreshing spritzer to mix with alcoholic drinks in the summer.
Photo by Tomasz Rynkiewicz on Unsplash
Meal prep
This is crucial- you know how alcohol lowers your inhibitions? Aside from the embarrassing consequences, lowered inhibitions can lead to giving less cares about sticking to your “healthy lifestyle” (read: Supremo pizza for one). Get ahead of this and create little snack stacks for yourself. Pick snacks that you actually want to eat and include a little bit of your cravings. For example, I’m more likely to reach for a greasy piece of pizza or a juicy burger. So, I’ll find healthier versions of these meals. I’ll make turkey burgers ahead of time and chop up tons of veggies for toppings and buns. If I’m craving pizza (which is 100% of the time), I’ll use whole wheat dough from the refrigerated section at Trader Joe’s, spread it out on my cast iron skillet and make my own less greasy version of pizza.
Ok that’s all for now! Have a happy and healthy rest of summer! Xoxo
