The Do’s and Don’t of 4th of July Eating

9 times out of 10 you’re going to a gathering for 4th of July.   The party is going to be stocked full of food, drinks, desserts, and of course alcohol.   Before you start sprinting for the dessert table, you may want to read the Do’s and Don’ts of 4th of July Eating.

Do’s of 4th of July Eating

• DO eat before you arrive to your gathering.   Eating one hour before hand will help you to avoid the bad and consume the good.
• DO go bun-less – buns are extra carbs you won’t be needing.
• DO – Pass on the Mayo filled dishes.   Coleslaw and potato salad are the biggest pitfalls on the table because they are loaded with calories!   Roam right around those and find the veggies.

• DO – Paleo UP!   Eat lean proteins, such as Kabbobs, chicken breast, fish and lean steaks.  This will help you to avoid the bad foods later.
• DO – choose healthy carbs such as corn, rice, and fruits.
• DO – use small plates if available and load them with veggies, a small serving of healthy carbs, and a bit of fruit.

• Do burn some calories before your party.   One of my favorite quotes from celebrity Matthew Mcconaughey is ” I do something daily to break a sweat.”  Make sure you workout and DON’T use it as an excuse to over indulge.
• DO bring water or have it with you during the gathering.  You can also use some of our great water recipes to take with you and stay hydrated without all the calories.   If you need to have an alcoholic beverage stick to one or 2 max.

Don’ts of 4th of July Eating

• Don’t – Get crazy with the alcohol.  If you decide to go overboard, it will take you all week to burn off the calories you ingest on that one day.
• Don’t – Come to the gathering hungry.
• Don’t – Graze the table filling up on carbs instead of proteins.
• Don’t – Eat huge amounts of unnecessary random calories such as dips, mayo, sugary drinks, and chips galore.
• Don’t – Skip your workout for the day just because it’s a “holiday.”
• Don’t – Treat the dessert table as a buffet coming back 2 – 3 times to make sure you got everything.

While holiday are meant to be fun.  Use the day to enjoy your friends, family, and loved ones.   Remember that events are more about the company and the activities and less about the food and drinks.   Take these Do’s and Don’ts of 4th of July seriously and don’t let then celebration of freedom keep you from your results.

Living Lean,

Adria