It’s officially summer!

So maybe it’s not “officially” summer, but it sure feelsl like it! The weather is hot, bugs are out, and it’s Memorial Day weekend. When I was little, we always opened our pool on Memorial Day weekend and it marked the beginning of summer. We don’t have the pool anymore, but that doesn’t mean summer has to wait for the solstice!

To mark the start to summer, I had my first corn-on-the-cob of the season. I do like to put a little bit of Smart Balance on it, but if you’re looking to skip the calories and fat of butter, I once read in Prevention magazine that lemon juice and garlic powder gives the corn a nice kick! I did try it once and it wasn’t too bad, but I think I’ll stick to the traditional spread.

I also cooked up a veggie burger and slathered it with mashed avocado and a tomato slice. Because I’m a vegetarian, the grill doesn’t get used much in our house and definitely isn’t summer ready! I also had a soft, warm sweet potato. Lots of veggies at this dinner!

I was having an “off day” this morning, so I decided to go for a long walk to get some endorphins going. I walked my usual route to the bottom of the hill where the river is, but instead of turning around I continued into town.

I used EveryTrail like I always do to track my walk.

My stats were:

5.7 miles long

Avg speed: 3.0 mph

Elevation: Up 5069 feet/Down 5103 feet

Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Stick to your weight loss goals this memorial day weekend:

BBQ’s and cookouts are a big part of summer, especially summer holiday weekends. As fun as BBQ’s are, they can also mean disaster on a healthy diet. Hamburgers, hotdogs, potato chips, coleslaw, potato salad, and soda in endless quantities are a dieters worst nightmare. But this doesn’t mean diet destruction!

If you are hosting a BBQ this weekend, you are in control of what is served. This is a huge advantage for staying healthy, and there are plenty of ways to make the most of it!

• Have an option of veggie burgers, low-fat turkey burgers, and boneless skinless chicken breasts to eat instead of hamburgers or hotdogs
• Buy baked potato chips or veggie chips instead of regular potato chips
• Substitute the mayo in coleslaw or potato salad with plain greek yogurt
• Serve up a fruit salad and veggie platter

If you are not hosting a BBQ this weekend, there are plenty of ways to keep within your diet budget. Ask the host/hostess if they would like you to bring anything. If they say yes, take advantage of it and bring a healthier option, such as the choices listed above. If they do not want you to bring anything, be aware of what you are eating by:

• Having a bunless hamburger or hotdog
• Take advantage of the veggie or fruit platter if there is one
• Use moderation with your portions
• Drink plenty of water!

Moderation is key this Memorial Day weekend. Don’t deprive yourself, but don’t go overboard. Have fun and happy Memorial Day!