Nutrition

sustainable summer

10 tips for staying on track this summer

Written by Amy Wearne | Owner of AIM Nutrition

We’re heading into summer time which means we want to look good while enjoying all that summer brings. There is a plethora of information available when it comes to nutrition. Having so many resources available is both a blessing and a curse.

With so much information to sift through, how can you know what works best for you and YOUR goals?

How do you focus on getting or staying healthy without feeling like you’ve brought the Grinch to the backyard BBQ?

Whether you prefer flexible dieting, keto, paleo, plant-based or another style of eating, there are a few key strategies that you can employ to help you feel confident in your nutrition.

Building diet and lifestyle habits can be overwhelming at times, so we’re sharing our top 10 tips and tricks to help you keep it simple. After all, the simpler things are, the more sustainable (and enjoyable!) they’ll feel. This is the trick to ultimate success.

Using these tips and tricks throughout the summer season can directly translate into progress towards your goals. #1. Always have foods in the house that are primarily made up of protein, carbs or fats to make building balanced meals easier.

#2. Never grocery shop hungry. Planning a meal or snack ahead of time can be a game changer when it comes to sticking to your list.

#3. Set your environment up for success. Keep tempting foods off the counters and in the back of the pantry.

#4. Skipping breakfast is a bad idea. Actually, skipping any meal is a bad idea and it only sets you up for overeating at your next meal. Divide your food evenly throughout your meals.

#5. If you’re struggling with hunger, try eating fewer, larger meals instead of smaller frequent ones to achieve a genuine sense of fullness.

#6. Find a few “go to” meals closest to the three places you spend the most time (your “food radius” - often work, school, gym) so you’re never without a back up plan when you need to grab something in a pinch.

#7. Don’t drink your calories, (alcohol, coconut water, kombucha). If hunger is an issue, volume (chewing and swallowing your food) will almost always be more satisfying.

#8. Try the “This or That but Not Both” rule. Allow yourself a beer or a dessert at your friends barbeque but not both.

#9. Bring a main dish to social gatherings. If you want to feel more in control of your intake ensure there is something at the barbeque, family gathering or picnic, that you know serves your goals. Bringing a bag of chips puts your nutrition destiny in someone else’s hands.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR SUMMER:

#10. The one thing that doesn’t fit is spontaneity- always have a plan. If we fail to plan, we plan to fail and no matter how cliche that sounds, that’s the truth. Tell someone your plan, process how you’re going to follow through and execute.