Fun in the Summer Sun!

The wait is over!  After the fierce fall storms, winter blizzards and a not so sunny spring, summer officially begins today!  Not that you didn’t love the season enough already, I thought it would be fun to list my top 10 ways summer makes it easy to follow healthy habits!

1.  More Daylight: During the rest of the year, darkness in the early morning and evening can sometimes serve as an excuse to not get out and exercise.  Now that you have more daylight and warmer temperatures in both the beginning and end of the day, it is easier to enjoy an outdoor walk or work-out!

2.  Grilling: Using your barbeque to grill food is a great way to cook healthy.  It doesn’t require the addition of added fat like sautéing and frying sometimes can, and you reduce nutrient losses if you grill vegetables compared to boiling them.

3.  Fresh Fruit: Many healthy fruits such blueberries and watermelon are in season in the summer making them the perfect sweet snack or dessert.

4.  Summer Leagues: Whether it’s softball or beach volleyball, there are many summer sports opportunities that make it easy to turn your exercise into a social engagement as well as a sweat session!

5.  More Sun: Summer usually leads to spending more time in the sun.  While this time should be regulated and sunscreen should always be applied, spending more time in the sun can increase the likelihood that you are getting your Vitamin D, which come from the sun’s rays.

6.  Vacations: Part of being healthy is taking time to relax.  While a vacation can bring some stress, it’s also a great time to take a deep breath and “chill out.”  You can also relax outside with a book, or nap in a hammock.  Even this mini vacation can serve to rejuvenate your mind and make it easier to practice healthy habits.

7.  Easy Vegetable Increase: Kitchens can get hot in the summer so work with fresh produce and beans that don’t require cooking to create satiating meals.  It’s a great way to increase your intake of vegetables and legumes, and it doesn’t require you to stand over the hot stove or oven!

8.  Cool in the Pool: Spending time in the pool or in the ocean at the beach is a wonderful way to exercise and stay cool.  Stay tuned next week for my blog on “Workouts for the Water.”

9.  Time with the Kids:  Even though having the kids home can bring a little more chaos to your household, it is also a time to catch up with them and make sure they are a part of the healthy journey you are on.

10.  Fun with family:  If you’re like me, your summer is filled with happy events that revolve around family.  Whether it’s a barbeque, pool party, graduation, wedding, showers, or celebrating a new addition to the family, enjoy those times of celebration with the ones you love.

Your turn to take action:  Add to my list!  What are your favorite healthy aspects of summer?

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