Summer Fun

I love warm weather and all of the outdoor activities that we can do much more than winter! I love playing basketball and tennis with my husband and my children when I can get them out there. My husband and I have a lot of fun together (we are not very good, but laughter is like medicine). In the summer there are also invitations to a lot of picnics with all the traditional picnic foods! I used to try to bring healthy stuff to picnics so people could opt for it, but a lot of the time I was the only one eating my “special dish”. I have found that for me eating before I go helps me avoid eating things I would prefer not to eat. It helps with calorie consumption and I enjoy the people more than the food. Summer gives us more local fresh produce (good sources of anti0xidants and phyto chemicals) and of course lots of zucchini. I have made my husband lasagna with it instead of pasta and he really likes it. I have also made a chocolate cake with it and it is very moist….no one could tell. The activities and the fresh produce are wonderful summer benefits as well as some vitamin D, which has become a huge deficiency in our part of the country.  You do need to get some good rays in moderation. Watch out for those salads at your picnics, dips and salad dressings laden with fat and chemicals. My motto is always be prepared!, like a girl scout.  Don’t forget to laugh with everyone and at yourself, it is good medicine.