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Undeniably, summer is one of the best seasons of the year. The weather during summer is ideal for trying out new outdoor activities — perfect if you want to de-stress or bond with your family on the beach or park. This season also calls for more bikinis, shorts, and breathable clothes.
To get the most out of summer, change your eating habits as soon as possible. The food you consume regularly can significantly affect your overall well-being. Eat too much refined grains, oily foods, and sweets, and you’ll likely spend your entire summer feeling weak or sick.
Be summer-ready by incorporating the following eating habits into your lifestyle.
In This Post:
1. Consume More Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals but finding them throughout the year isn’t an easy feat. Often, your favorites aren’t available all year round.
Instead of waiting when your favorite fruits and veggies will be sold in your area, consume fresh produce that is in season. For example, Morrisons offers some fresh raspberries during May, so consider adding the fruit into your diet. You can also visit your local farmers’ markets to have access to a wide variety of vegetables and other fruits.
Aside from making sure that you’re still getting the nutrients your body needs, consuming more seasonal fruits and vegetables will also keep your bank account happy. Seasonal produce is actually cheaper.
2. Focus on Fish
Consuming red meat has its own benefits, but eating too much can eventually take a toll on your health. Regularly eating red meat can increase your risk of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and even cancer.
Stay healthy throughout the summer by eating more fish because it’s high in nutrients, boosts your brain health, and prevents depression. Fish may also reduce your risk of autoimmune diseases and improve your sleep quality.
Another thing that makes fish a great meal choice is that you can prepare it in different ways. Do you have salmon fillets stored in your fridge? Pan fry them with garlic and butter. Are you craving some mackerel? Marinate them with a sweet and spicy sauce before grilling.
3. Binge on Lighter Snacks
If you’re trying to lose weight in time for summer, you might think that skipping meals is the best way to go. However, this will only do more than good because not eating anything for long periods will only slow down your metabolism. This leaves you with little to no energy.
Instead of skipping meals during the day, opt to binge on lighter snacks. This is an excellent way of increasing your body’s nutrient intake, sustaining your energy levels, and helping your body recover from strenuous physical activities. Snacking light also controls your hunger levels, which means that you won’t end up eating excessive amounts of calories.
There are plenty of light, healthy snacks that can help you lose weight. Depending on your taste buds, you can snack on mixed nuts, apple slices with peanut butter, or kale chips. Hard-boiled eggs are also excellent options as they’re very filling.
4. Choose Whole Grains
You don’t need to drastically change your eating habits just to be summer-ready. Usually, you just have to pay attention to the variety of foods you’re eating.
If you love eating bread, cereals, pasta, and rice, choose the wholegrain varieties instead of their refined counterparts. Whole grain products are healthier because they’re packed with nutrients, such as antioxidants, B vitamins, fiber, and various trace minerals (copper, iron, and zinc). Sticking to a diet rich in whole grains can also reduce your risk of obesity and heart diseases.
5. Drink More Water
Proper hydration is vital during summer. Your body will try to cool down through sweating, which can lead to dehydration if you don’t consume enough fluids. Dehydration can lead to heatstroke, seizures, low blood volume, kidney failure, and even coma.
If you want to enjoy your upcoming summer vacation, practice drinking at least 1.5 liters of water every day. Besides preventing dehydration, drinking more water can also help lubricate your joints, regulate your body temperature, and remove metabolic wastes from your body.
If you’re not a fan of drinking water, try making fruit-infused water. You can add slices of lemon, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, or orange to make your water more flavorful.
Embrace Better Eating Habits
It’ll be challenging to enjoy the summer if you have poor eating habits months prior. How can you enjoy the beach if you easily get sick? Do you think you’ll have the confidence to wear the skimpiest shorts if you binged on too much junk food?
Follow all of the tips mentioned here to ensure that your upcoming summer will be one for the books. By eating healthily, you’ll have the energy and confidence to make the most out of this year’s summer!