Summer Nutrition Survival Guide

You're going to drink beer and have fun this summer. Follow these nutrition tips to maintain your diet throughout.

The official start of summer and sunshine is upon us, ladies and gents. And this means lots of skin, surfing (or pretending), and booze-b-qing. So yeah, chances are your summer share house is like a scene from Animal House, and perhaps this is the first summer you're wondering why those lifeguards are, um, a bit younger than you always remembered. Find that cougar in you ladies (gents, stay away from the < 17 crowd), and make wise nutrition decisions when it comes to food and beer (...and more drinking).

First things first, HYDRATION!!

Beer. Is. Not. Hydrating.

Neither are margaritas, or wine coolers. And you don't get hydrated by swimming in the pool or ocean either. You’ve got to remember to drink water all day long. Throw a few water bottles in your cooler along with whatever other goodies you got and then find a very attractive male (or female) to carry it for you. Always thinking bout your love life, kids.

Of equal importance... FOOD. Eat something. If you're headed to the beach with plans to day drink, make sure you eat breakfast. Mimosas are not breakfast. However, on occasion they can be an addition to breakfast. So get plenty of H2O and at least some eggs or yogurt. Eating breakfast will also prevent you from eating non-1R Approved, crappy, snacks when you realize you're starving an hour after your beach arrival. If you're not hungry in the AM, pack a lunch. Both money and calories saved on your way to a healthy diet.
 

Further on the nutition and diet note: Grilling is awesome. It’s a nutritionist’s dream method of cooking. I’ll even go so far as to say burgers and processed meats like hotdogs are okay. It's the additions that kills you, your weight, and that six pack core of yours: The cheese, the bacon, the white bread, the potato chips, and the pasta salads and all of the condiments like mayo. Mayo mayo mayo.

On the mayo note - food borne illness (food poisoning) runs rampant at picnics and bbqs. Keep things at the right temperature, particularly salads that are meant to be cold. If it's been sitting in the sun to the point it's warm, even if it’s your famous pasta salad, toss it. Bacteria love heat and love to multiply, and nothing would be worse than a precious summer weekend being ruined by warm tuna salad. Ew.

Be the health conscious one and bring veggies to grill! Grocery stores could not make it easier with the invention of pre made shish kabobs. Pick em up for your whole crew and be responsible for getting veggies into a weekend otherwise filled with booze and beach and agua.

Quick tips for a healthier bbq:

1. Whole wheat buns
2. Low fat mayo
3. Veggies veggies veggies. 
4. Lettuce and tomatoes on those burgers, babes.
5. Potatoes don't have to be out of your life, try baked potatoes instead of chips. Remember this article on fried foods and why you should get them out of your life?
6. Its berry season!!! The perfect dessert. And watermelon season is quickly approaching. Life is good.

And lastly, the real concern for the weekend... beverages.

Brews: Refresh your beer knowledge with this post from One Smart Brownie, and just know, when in doubt, go for light as I've told you about the calories is alcohol once or twice.

As far as cocktails go, here are a few points to remember:

1. Make margaritas from scratch (all you realllly need is triple sec and limes)
2. Skip juice. Empty cals.
3. Ditto on tonic water. Empty cals. Instead go for club soda or seltzer… orrrrrr diet tonic!
4. Soda. Diet. Please. Seriously, while I'm not crazy about diet soda, it's better than regular.
5. Bloody marys are my favorite drink in the world, so I can't find it in my heart to talk badly about them. But eat those veggies, fools.

If you remember nothing else, HYDRATE. I think I've said it 14 times in this article. And, just a thought, if you have any intention of making it out at night, maybe take it easaaaay during the day. Your head/ bod will thank you come Tuesday when you're back in that cubicle working, starting your internship, or just laying in bed doing whatever it is ya do. Be safe out there... But you only live once so totally make moves on the eye candy. Swear I'm starting a dating site next. Have a great weekend :)