Every summer I can’t wait for the 4th of July. It is such a fun holiday filled with great food, warm weather and colorful fireworks!
My friend hosts a BBQ every year and I’m always super excited for it. With all of us being so busy, there rarely is a time for us to get together and this is the perfect excuse. I love the time with my friends and all the delicious party food that we get to eat.
I know how it goes with all of that food temptation everywhere, I am always grazing in the kitchen. I like to indulge but I don’t like to feel super full so I’ve thought of some ways to make sure I can feel as comfortable as possible throughout the day.
Eat a healthy snack before getting to the party
When we’re starving it is easy to eat with our eyes rather than our stomachs. Having a snack before the party will make sure you don’t over eat on all of those party snacks.
- Try having an apple, peach, strawberries, almonds, kale chips, cashews or even celery with peanut butter
Bring your own party dish
The hardest part about picking a healthy option is when there isn’t a healthy option to pick from. Some options to bring to the party can be:
- A fruit platter, this is refreshing and completely festive. I love making fruit kabobs with strawberries, blueberries and banana as a fun party favor
I always bring my guacamole to all of my cookouts, it’s a fan favorite. Bring some veggies to dip with it and it’s the perfect party dish. You can also bring some hummus to go with the veggies- Summer salads are my favorite party dishes because everybody always gets really creative when making them. Get creative and bring one high in protein to keep yourself full through out the day. Try Katie’s black bean salad with avocado.
- Chicken breasts, portobello mushrooms, chick pea burgers, salmon or any other fish for your friends to throw on the grill for you. I do this every year. It makes me feel way more comfortable when I’m trying to enjoy the party and wanting to stay on my healthy eating plan
Decide what you’re going to eat before you get there
When trying to eat healthy, it really helps to have a plan! If you know you’ll get overwhelmed by all the food options at the party decide before hand what you will or will not eat.
Eat in moderation
If you’re really craving the pasta salad, it’s best to just eat it! You don’t need to measure anything out, you can just eyeball your food to get idea of a portion. As a general rule, meat should match the size of a deck of cards and pasta the size of your fist. It also always helps when eating off of a smaller plate. By eating this way you won’t feel overly full by the end of your party
Bring your own dessert
The yummy desserts are my favorite part of the party and I can never keep myself away. Find a healthy dessert recipe, like our chia seed pudding, that will satisfy your sugar cravings
Be Kind To You
We like to remind ourselves that the holidays are not every day so take a deep breathe, drink plenty of water and enjoy as much as you can. Have a great 4th of July everybody!
Big Hugs & Health,
Kelly
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