The Fourth of July is an American holiday that is known for being a time of eating good food in the presence of friends and family with fireworks shooting off in the background.. People will being firing up their grills and headed outside to enjoy the warm summer sunshine with family and friends. The last thing you want on your mind for your day of festive fun is how you’re going to stick to your healthy guns.
Here are some six simple suggestions that can help you have a healthier Fourth of July.
1. Sign Up for a Race
See if there is a July Fourth race being held in an area near you. 5k and 10k races are common races held on Independence Day. Participating in a race is the perfect way to start your holiday off on a positive start. Grab some friends or family members to join you! If there isn’t anything going on in your area, go out on your own 4th of July run or sneak in a quick workout before the celebratory activities begin. Get moving by playing active games such as sand volleyball or joining in with the kids for a game that will keep you on your toes.
2. Go “bun-less”
Fourth of July is a holiday known for grilling! Instead of adding extra calories and carbs to your meal with bread opt out of using a bun for your hamburger or hot dog! You can use lettuce as a replacement for your bun instead. You won’t even miss the bread and you definitely won’t miss the bloated feeling bread can leave.
If going “bun-less” isn’t realistic for you, substitute white hamburger and hot dog buns with whole wheat buns instead.
3. Bring Your Own Healthy Dishes
Don’t depend on other people to bring healthy options to your Fourth of July get together! The best way to guarantee that there will be healthy choices is for you to bring your own food dishes. A raw veggie platter is always an easy and quick option to throw together. Bring veggies to throw on the grill. Grilled veggies are perfect for a burger topping or side. Bananas, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries are patriotic colored fruits that can be used for a sweet dessert. Guacamole is the perfect healthy dip alternative for chips and crackers.
4. Watch Your Drink
It’s easy to forget all of the sugar that will be lurking in drinks you may consume. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. If you will be consuming alcohol you can alternate one alcoholic drink with a cup of water to pace yourself. Make sure you have plenty of food in your system to also fight dehydration if drinking alcohol. If water is the drink of choice for you, brighten it up by adding fresh fruit slices such as lemon, lime, strawberry, and cucumber.
5. Don’t Forget the Sunscreen
If anything be healthy by safeguarding your skin. Be sure to bring along your sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays if you’re going to be spending time in the sun. Apply a layer of sunscreen 30 minutes before you’ll be outside. It’s easy to remember the first layer, but don’t forget to reapply! You can even set a reminder on your phone to remind you when it’s time to apply your next layer.
6. Choose One Indulgence
If you’re trying to stick to your guns by making healthy eating choices, allow yourself to indulge in one thing at your Fourth of July party. Whether it’s a handful of potato chips or a few scoops of homemade ice cream, you’ll look forward to it and will savor it. This will remove the stress and restrictive nature that some people battle with during holidays.
The last thing you want on a holiday is to be stressing over what you’re going to eat and how your bikini body looks. Remember that tomorrow is another day and if you indulge more than you had planned on food and drinks, you’ll have the next day to get right back on track. Independence Day only comes around once a year anyways, so enjoy a fun filled day with your loved ones.
Skylar Starbuck is a 22 year old college student who has a passion for leading an overall healthy lifestyle. Before going off to college Skylar had always been involved in year round athletics in school, so her personal fitness journey began her freshman year of college. She then realized that it was now up to her to take care of her physical... Read More
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