Anytime there’s a summer holiday, you can bet I’m going to take full advantage and celebrate! This Fourth of July you’ll find me soaking up the sun in Miami with friends and family surrounded by food, drinks and fireworks.
I used to get anxious around holidays because I thought being health conscious meant I would have to miss out. Not only that, when I accidentally overdid it and ate too much, I would feel guilty and beat myself up the next day. But here’s the thing: the holidays should be enjoyable! Life is too short for anything else.
Luckily I’ve found a way to enjoy myself during holidays without overdoing it. You work too hard to let the holidays get you off track. Heading to a BBQ? Here are some simple ways to curb those cravings and enjoy a healthy, fun and delicious Fourth of July.
Don’t go hungry
I know how easy it is to imagine all the yummy food that is in store and decide to skip breakfast or lunch so that you can get your fill later. Seems like a solid plan right? Wrong. Research shows that skipping means can contribute to cravings and increase your risk of overeating. When we skip meals our brain sends signals to our body that there’s a shortage of food and we go into famine mode, which makes it almost impossible not to scarf down an entire plate of cookies or potato salad at the neighborhood picnic. I eat light or make an Arbonne protein shake before I go to a holiday get together, which helps me cut down on cravings because I’m satisfied when I get there. This helps me make better decisions and if i do eat something that isn’t the healthiest, I tend to eat way less of it.
Bring a healthy, mouth watering snack!
I’m a firm believer that just because something is healthy doesn’t mean it has to be flavorless. I promise you can have it both ways. And not only that, when you bring a dish that’s healthy and tasty, it’ll quickly become a crowd favorite. Some of my favorite healthy snacks are crispy veggies and hummus, or fresh salsa with malanga chips. Malanga chips are made out of the root vegetable taro, which means they are gluten and carb free (double win!). For side dishes, you can never go wrong with grilled or baked veggies with herb seasoning. They will keep you full and prevent you from carb loading at the buffet table.
For something sweet, I love making chocolate protein balls with my Arbonne protein powder or this easy to make chocolate mug cake. For a warm, gooey dessert packed with protein I love heating up chocolate chip QuestBar in the microwave. It’s the easiest 30-second dessert ever!
Hydrate early + often
Despite the heat, it can be so easy to forget to hydrate. Did you know that you should drink at least eight glasses of water a day? Truly you should be drinking between half a gallon and a gallon per day. I bring my water bottle with me wherever I go and use it to keep track of how much water I’m drinking. If you plan on drinking alcohol, be sure to drink a glass of water in between each cocktail. Not only will staying hydrated prevent heat-related illnesses, but drinking water will help you feel more full and reduce sugar cravings.
Cut out sugar, not flavor on cocktails
Those sugary cocktails are so easy to suck down, but all that sugar can lead to binging, hangovers, fatigue and mood swings. Do yourself a favor, and drink cocktails with natural flavors such as fruit or flavored sparkling water. You’ll feel so much better and thank me later! One of my favorite go-to drinks is Vodka or Gin with club soda and a handful of frozen blueberries. If you are more of a beer drinker, stick to a light and low carb beer such as Michelob Ultra.
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