With barbecues, family reunions and social outings in abundance, summer is prime time for eating. But, are some of your favorite foods that say “summer” not so good for you during the season? Experts recommend some foods be avoided – especially if you’re watching your weight – and you may be surprised at what makes the list.
While burgers and summer go hand in hand, they can cause your body’s temperature to rise – literally. As a result, they take longer to digest. If you are looking to maintain or lose weight for the summer, select another protein option with less fat.
READ: 7 Food Poisoning Dangers You May Not Know About
You may love a morning cup of coffee, but because coffee and tea act as diuretics, they are probably not the best way to start your day.
Diuretics cause you to use the bathroom more often and rid your body of salt and water, which can cause you to dehydrate. Grab a glass of fresh juice or water instead.
Ribs are often strongly associated with summertime, but they may not be the best option for you to eat. A quarter pound of beef or pork ribs is about 288 calories and loaded with saturated fat. This caloric number is BEFORE you add the BBQ sauce!
If you indulge, substitute the sauce for low-fat spices like mustard, garlic and chili powder. Also, trim any visible fat on the ribs and eat small portion sizes.
Shellfish are abundant during the summer, but there are rules you should use when indulging. You should only eat shellfish in months that contain the letter ‘R’ which means May through August is typically off limits. Seafood has seasons just like fruits and vegetables.
Shellfish are out of season when they are spawning, and this happens during the summer for most oysters, clams and mussels. When shellfish is harvested before it has a chance to reproduce, it puts populations at risk. Shellfish are tastier when they aren’t fertile. They tend to be more milky and soft.
An alternative is to buy farmed shellfish during the summer months, but some of these may be
genetically modified. Try alternate seafood options instead.
READ: Summer & Food Poisoning: What You Need To Know
Daiquiris look like they wouldn’t contain lots of calories, but if you check their nutritional profile, you will find that daiquiris contain loads of sugar. One 8-oz strawberry daiquiri has more calories than a double-patty hamburger and is full of fat and sugar.
Instead, opt for a mojito or find a low-calorie cocktail alternative.
Potato salad is often a staple of most outdoor festivities, but eaters beware. One of the factors that make this dish delicious (but fattening) is the mayonnaise.
If you are tempted by potato salad at an outing, you may want to choose another option instead.
When choosing potato salad, make sure it has low-fat mayo or a more heart-healthy unsaturated fat. An excellent example of a healthier oil choice is olive oil.
Homemade lemonade is the best and can be refreshing on a hot summer day. But depending on what is in your lemonade, this drink can be deceiving.
While freshly squeezed lemons are healthy, lemonade is often loaded with tons of added sugar, which can pack on the calories. When this is the case, lemonade can have the same calories as soda, which is full-sugared.
If you are drinking 16 ounces of lemonade, this adds up to 200 to 250 calories, and drinking this type of lemonade doesn’t factor in as being equitable to a serving of “fruit juice.”
Opt to make your own lemonade and make sure you don’t add too much sugar.
Just because it’s summertime doesn’t mean you have to pack on the pounds with the numerous food options in front of you. Avoiding foods that do this will make a difference in a big way.
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