With Memorial Day approaching, it’s time to fire up the grill and get ready to celebrate the official start of summer and the long awaited BBQ season.  Sticking to a healthy diet can be especially challenging this time of year as you head out to backyard BBQs, tailgates, and parties galore.  We offer you six tips to help you stay on track while still enjoying your Memorial Day celebrations.

Bring something healthy

People love it when you offer to bring something to a BBQ.  If you’re worried there won’t be anything healthy at the party, bring it yourself!  The hosts will be happy you helped, and you’ll be confident there will be something healthy for you to eat.

Choose where you want to indulge

Before you go, choose where you want to indulge.  If desserts are your thing, go easy on the apps and enjoy a delicious dessert at the end of the night.  If you know you’ll want a cold beer (or two), make that your indulgence and stick to healthy food options.  Find a healthy balance and enjoy yourself while staying on track.

Be mindful of munching

Be careful of grazing over the course of the party.  If you start munching on chips and dips, you may have a full dinner’s worth of food before you even eat dinner.  If you want something to munch on before the meal is served, make 1 plate of food and enjoy it, then you don’t have to keep going back for more.

Swap processed foods for something fresh

Grab some veggies for dipping instead of chips.  Use a few pieces of lettuce as the bun for your burger instead of an actual bun.  Go for the green salad instead of the pasta salad.  Enjoy some fresh fruit instead of indulging at the dessert table.  Check out your options before you start eating and see where you can make some healthy swaps.

Fill your plate with healthy options

Make one plate of food for dinner and fill it with healthy protein, lots of veggies, and some sweet fruit for dessert.  Leaving just a little room on your plate for something you want to indulge in allows you to have some without overdoing it.

Choose your drinks wisely

Water is always a great option.  But, let’s be serious, a backyard BBQ typically calls for a few drinks.  So, if you’re going to have a drink, go into it with a plan.  Choose how many you will have before you get there, pace yourself, and drink water in between to stay hydrated.  Watch out for cocktail mixers, juices and sodas, as they add extra sugar and empty calories to your drinks.  As always, moderation is important. Enjoy!