Summer is here. The kids are out of school. Vacations are planned. BBQs. Happy hours on patios. Adventures to new places with food stops along the way. Family gatherings.

How are we supposed to eat healthy with so many temptations all around us at this time of year?!

Psst - It’s actually not that hard, if you’re willing to plan ahead a little… For reals!

Here’s my Top 10 Tips to Eating Healthy This Summer:

1. Drink your water. Serious. Did you know we crave salt and sweets when we’re not getting enough water? Not only does your body need it - but it fills you up!

2. Eat a healthy, filling breakfast. It doesn’t have to be complicated - and it doesn’t have to be first thing when you wake up. But when you do finally fuel your body, make sure it’s something that sticks with you! When our body is nourished, we have the energy to make better choices - hence, less snacking and overeating later. (I have a nutritional protein shake I drink most mornings - easy peasy. I also love a couple of eggs with avocado and salsa and some fruit on the side!)

3. When you grocery shop, take a few extra minutes to wash, prep, and store your fruits and vegetables in a way that they are easy to grab for snacks! I also like to put them in containers that are easy to pack for a lunch on the go!

4. Speaking of lunch… They can be a challenge if you have kids home, right? This is where I strive for a “magic plate” - balanced with 1/3 green veggies. 1/3 protein, 1/3 starchy veggie or grain, and 1-3 Tbsp healthy fats. Once again - it’s all about filling our body with nutrients and fueling it with protein, fat, and carbs. I love smoothies and “plate lunches” - easy, simple, and can take on the go! (Sign up for my newsletter for recipes delivered to your inbox!)

5. More water! Keep it coming! (I have an app on my phone for tracking my glasses… So helpful!)

6. Snacks. Always pair carbs and protein to keep you full and not reaching for sugary snacks! An apple with some peanut butter or cheese. Veggies and hummus or guacamole. Fruit and yogurt. Almonds and blueberries. Pack a little lunch cooler and these snacks are just as easy as those sugary granola bars!

7. Take advantage of summer produce! Truth be told: I’m not a salad person. Unless it’s summer. I love mixing veggies and fruit, and tossing in my shrimp or chicken. And when I go to the Farmer’s Market, it’s always fun to experiment with new things that are in season at the moment. (This is also a great way to get the kids involved! Let them pick something to try!)

8. Alcohol. It’s a touch one in the summer, isn’t it? You’re at a BBQ, a pool party, a sporting event - of course you want something fun to drink! My tip? For every alcohol drink - drink a glass of water. If you alternate, not only will you drink less alcohol, but you’ll stay hydrated and won’t have as bad a hangover the next day. See? I got your back!

9. Going to family get togethers? Afraid there won’t be a single healthy thing on the buffet table? Bring your favorite healthy side - a salad, a fruit or veggie tray, a charcuterie board, unsweetened ice tea, a fruit-based dessert. It’s entirely possible to fill up on the healthy sides and take small bites of the other items. (If you completely deprive yourself of the usual favorites, you’ll end up binging them at some point - have a few bites! Enjoy!)

10. Take it one day at a time. One meal at a time. Pay attention to how you feel when you eat certain foods - does your energy go up or down? Don’t judge yourself when you give in to cravings - but get curious about why you needed that food at that time (often there’s more to the craving than just “it sounded good”).

Eating healthy isn’t punishment. It’s not about depriving ourselves of the “good stuff.” It’s about re-calibrating our cravings and senses to enjoy what our body needs most. And when we give it enough time to start feeling our energy increase, our brain fog clear, our gut issues to heal - we start to wonder why we ever let junk food rule our lives in the first place!

And - if we have kids, we can become the role model we’ve always wanted to be!

If these tips sound challenging to you, but you’re interested in getting your health back on track - summer is an amazing time to start! Schedule a free Breakthrough Session and let’s identify the 3 things standing in your way to more energy and less frustration; and the #1 thing you can do right now to become a healthier version of yourself today!