Wellness Wisdom: 5 Ways to Eat Clean and Keep your Cool at Cookouts

Greetings to my #Wellness WOWers and those who are seeking an enhanced life of health, happiness, and harmony. In just a couple of days, people will be traveling and preparing for an extended weekend during this Memorial Holiday weekend. There will be family gatherings, weddings and tons of cookouts. When we veer from our usual routine, it can either re-energize us with fun and fellowship, or drain us from stress and tension. Not to mention, for those with wellness goals to include healthy eating and weight release, you could completely blow your nutritional regimen this weekend.

But, I have been where you could possibly go this weekend and have come through without the tension in my emotions or around my bloated waistline. Here are 5 ways to eat clean and keep your cool at cookouts:

1. Bring a healthy dish
Most cookouts do not have any vegetables and if so, most of the time they are not green. Bring something healthy like a delectable and delicious tossed salad. Even if you are the only one who eats some of it, at least you know you consumed something healthy to help maintain your balance. Other healthy ideas to bring are Guacamole or fresh homemade salsa with blue corn or flaxseed chips. The guacamole not only will add vibrancy to your plate, but it can help mitigate stress. Avocados contain b-vitamins which serve as a tool to combat stress.

2. Eat before you go
DO NOT go hungry! Do no wait all day, starving yourself to then binge at the cookout. The best strategy is to eat several small meals throughout the day. Use the cookout as a treat in moderation.

3. Pick your favorite starch 
Most cookouts have multiple starchy foods. You will see the usual choices such as potato salad, corn, baked beans and A LOT of white bread products (i.e. buns, garlic bread etc.). Only consume one starch. Choose your favorite one and enjoy. Choose between potato salad and macaroni and cheese for example, NOT BOTH and not all! For people with diabetes or who are pre-diabetic, if you go overboard, your blood sugar will go through the roof! Personally, if I have too many starchy foods in one sitting, I feel sluggish and get brain fog. Stay alert to fully enjoy the party.

4. Drink plenty of water before and after
Our bodies as well as the earth’s surface is approximately 70% water. When we are dehydrated, our bodies signal that we may be hungry which will cause us to overeat. Sometimes all you need is a tall glass of water. In addition, with even 1% dehydration of our weight can cause cognitive decline and initiate a stress response. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and to facilitate the cleansing process after bingeing at the cookout, drink warm lemon water. This helps cleanse the liver and facilitate the process of detoxifying the extra glasses of rum punch and 3 slices of garlic bread you just ate.

5. Tea Time
If you went way overboard and are gassy and bloated tea time will help give you relief and release. Prepare a mug of ginger or mint tea. These herbs help relieve gas and bloating. There’s nothing worse than wanting to participate in the Soul Train line but you can barely dance because your pants are cutting into your waistline. Of course, you can prevent this from happening by partaking in the delectable delights in moderation. But if you don’t, you have an option. To really release extra waste and gases on a deeper level, have FREELIFE7’s Release Renew Detox Tea 

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See you next week and have a safe and stress-less weekend!

Yours in Health and Harmony,