SUMMER STRATEGIES

 ​Summer time and the living is easy! 

But don't let yourself take it easy on your nutrition.  Let's talk about some strategies you can use for the summer so you keep your body fueled with nutritious foods.

To start with, take advantage of all the fresh fruits and vegetables that summer brings! Apricots, cherries, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, radishes, arugula, strawberries, carrots, blackberries, beets, corn and MORE! In season produce will be extra yummy and nutritious. Bonus if you can find locally sourced produce because this means it had less time to travel to get to your grocery store and is likely more nutrient dense than the same looking piece of corn that traveled 2,000 miles to get to the store. 

Second, think about your day and plan ahead. This goes for all times of the year but with summer comes less ritualistic days and more spontaneity. Are you going to spend some time at the pool or ball park this week? Make sure you have your fridge stocked with easy to grab treats. Have a cooler and ice packs ready to go so you're not stuck eating processed junk while you're away from home. Prep your fruits and veggies ahead of time so you just have to grab them, throw them in a cooler and head out the door!

Third, be conscious of what you're drinking or enjoying for refreshment. Steer clear of the sugary "sports drinks" and stick with water. Lemons and limes are in season so if you need some extra flavor, try slicing  up some of these and putting them in your water. Summertime wouldn't be summertime without some yummy popsicle or ice cream so don't feel bad about indulging every once in a while but make sure you're paying attention to how often you indulge and in what serving size you're enjoying your treats. 

Implement these three strategies and your summer will be off to a nutritious start!