Five Ways to Survive Summer Cookouts and Stay Paleo

IT'S ALMOST HERE!!!! My #1 favorite holiday - the 4th of July. I love our traditions, the parade, the weather, the food, the family, and the fireworks! There are also SO many chances in front of you on the 4th and nearly EVERY summer picnic from now until Labor Day to totally derail any healthy eating habits - including anyone trying to follow a Paleo lifestyle. I have been there. Let's get through this together shall we?

 Here are some tips and tricks to get you through your sizzling summer.

#1 - Always bring a Paleo-friendly dish to share. If nothing else, at least you have ONE thing you can eat. Below is a 'pasta' salad I made with homemade paleo Italian dressing and spiraled 'zucchini' noodles.

#2 - NEVER camp out around the food. Pick a spot to sit FAR away from the spread of food you don't want to eat. If you stand there and talk, you are going to pick and graze at foods you shouldn't! Focus on the people around you and not the food.

#3 - Here is something you DO have going for you. If you are at a cookout there are 2 things you can count on. Meat and fire. You can't get any more paleolithic than that! Grilled chicken, fish, steak - even a hamburger is game - sans the bun. (I just put some mustard on mine and chow down.) Stay away from BBQ sauces as your healthy protein source is now just coated in sugar.

#4 - Get up and move! Go for a walk. Play bean bags, ladder ball, volleyball, etc. Play tag with the kids, bring a pile of squirt guns. If you are moving, you won't even think about food.

#5 - BYOB, Bring your own bottled water. There is likely to be a lot of soda and a lot of alcohol. Bring a refillable water bottle so you know you will be able to stay hydrated and healthy. Add slices of fresh fruit for extra refreshment. It's a party - go nuts!

And.. here is a bonus tip. When Aunt Ella says you MUST try her famous cheesecake (or something similar) say something such as 'Oh wow that really does look great but my stomach just isn't handling dairy well lately'. Or something like that. If you tell them you are avoiding sweets you will just year 'one bite won't hurt'! However, no one will want to prolong a conversation about your intestinal tract.

YOU CAN DO THIS!

What are some of the ways you get through a summer picnic without regret? Share in the comments below.