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6 Tips To Help You Eat Healthy At A 4th Of July BBQ & Party
So, it’s finally the summer. You’ve been going to the gym every day, running a couple miles outside after work, or increasing the amount of weight you can lift. But, being that the summer season has three major holidays—Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day, there is no denying that you could fall off the bandwagon. The fact of the matter is, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day are summer holidays that you spend with family and friends eating food and drinking booze. So, if you were looking to keep the weight off during the summer, these three holidays certainly do not make it easy!
At Village Catering, we are in the food business. However, that is not to say that we do not encourage our clients to eat right. In the event that you do want to eat healthier on July 4th, we have compiled a short list of tips you can take into consideration to help you keep the weight off or keep your weight where you want.
If you are hosting the party, use smaller plates.
According to one source we found, the smaller the plate you have, the less you will eat. In fact, some people will eat up to 50% less than they would if they had a larger plate that fit more food.
Consume your food slowly.
For those of you who do not know, it takes 20 minutes for your brain to realize that you are full. So, do not inhale your food! Eat slowly and take the time to enjoy your food. You will be less inclined to go up for a second hotdog or cheeseburger when your first plate is finally empty.
We know it’s hard, but eat the leanest meats.
When it comes to 4th of July BBQs, most people look forward to the burgers and hotdogs. But, if you want to eat maintain your weight—it might be better to grab a piece of pork or chicken.
Eat lots and lots of vegetables.
We are not saying ONLY eat vegetables, we are just saying that you should fill half of your plate with vegetables. Vegetables are high in fiber and water—which will help keep you full. Plus, they are very low in calories. Also, if you can, make sure to skip out on topping those veggies with butter and other sauces!
Do not skip ANY meals.
Some people think that skipping meals will allow you to “save” calories that you can use later for that big 4th of July BBQ. However, this is a big no-no because you will overeat. You will also make poor food choices instead of choosing the healthier options.
If you want to indulge a little, eat the healthy foods first and drink LOTS of water.
If you drink water and have some fruits and veggies before you eat a hotdog, you will find yourself feeling fuller faster, and grabbing less fatty foods.
There are many things that you can do to maintain your weight and your healthy eating habits at a July 4th party. It’s just a matter of how well-disciplined you are in order to make eating well a priority and not an option!