The end of summer is quickly approaching! Watching what you eat during Labor Day weekend can be tough: You hope for the best, but you’re bracing for the worst – healthy lifestyle-wise. We’ve got your back!
Watch out for sugary, higher carb beverages. Alcoholic or not, avoid drinks higher in sugar and carbs – such as special punches and concoctions. Simple drinks like flavored seltzer and lower carb adult beverages will save you from a sugar-induced hangover.
Check out the options before diving in. Lemma is a huge fan of this hack – scan the buffet options strategically before you even pick up a plate. If you don’t scan the selections first, you are more likely to load up your plate without being strategic about what you will select before grabbing a plate.
Bring veggies and/or fruit. If you are bringing a dish along to your friends and/or families’ house this Labor Day, opt for one that is packed with veggies and/or fruit. At least there will be one healthy option among other not as healthy dishes.
Control What You Can. If you don’t know what will be served at a get-together you are attending this Labor Day, be sure to have a healthy breakfast and/or lunch and exercise before the party.
Keep Your Portions in Mind. If you want to indulge, go for it – especially if you banked some calories earlier in the day with a healthy breakfast and workout. Lemma would recommend the two-tablespoon rule: Scout the food display and take two tablespoons-worth of high-calorie, high-fat options. This will help you to enjoy more indulgent foods among friends and family without feeling left out. This practice is similar to the three-bite rule you may have also heard of from other nutrition experts and ambassadors.
Stop Eating Just to Eat. Don’t add something to your plate you feel just ‘meh’ about. Why waste the calories? Eat something you don’t normally eat, such as a brat or dip someone made. Save your calories for something you want to savor and splurge on that may be special to the holiday – like a friend’s homemade dessert.
Below is a recipe for grilled stone fruit! Stone fruit holds up best on the grill and is in season right now! My husband got into grilling peaches and pineapples on the grill a few summers ago – always a good idea!
Grilled Stone Fruit Antipasto Plate (Recipe from Cooking Light)
Yield – 8 servings
Recipe Note: If you can’t find pluots, double up on peaches or plums.
Ingredients
Dressing:
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon hot sauce
Fruit:
1 pound firm black plums, halved and pitted
1 pound firm peaches, halved and pitted
1/2 pound firm nectarines, halved and pitted
1/2 pound firm pluots, halved and pitted
Cooking spray
Mint sprigs (optional)
How to Make It
- Prepare grill.
- To prepare dressing, combine first 8 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk.
- To prepare fruit, place fruit on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 3 minutes on each side. Remove from grill. Drizzle fruit with dressing.
Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner via Cooking Light
Nutritional Information
Calories 129 – Calories from fat 29%
Fat 4.1g, Sat fat 0.5g, Monofat 2.9g, Polyfat 0.4g
Protein 1.4g
Carbohydrate 23.8g
Fiber 2.9g
Cholesterol 0.0mg
Iron 0.3mg
Sodium 39mg
Calcium 12mg
Post by Sarah
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