Happy, Healthy 4th of July!!

You may not want to hear this...but here are 5 tips for eating healthy today...pretty simple and you can still enjoy the day.

1. FRUIT SALADS--good replacement for the heavier desserts at parties. Plus strawberries and blueberries are part of the color theme!

2. VEGGIE PLATTERS-a great substitute for chips, less bloating for your body if you will be hanging out all day in swim gear.

3. THE GRILL-the grill is your friend, because you don't need to add any oil to cook a piece of chicken or burger on it.

4. DRINKING WATER-it may be hot where you are, so if you are drinking alcoholic beverages, maybe substitute in a glass of water every other drink for optimal hydration. Also, being dehydrated makes you crave more salty foods than your body really needs.

5. FORGIVE YOURSELF- 4th of July is a day to relax and enjoy, but living a healthy lifestyle is about learning how to accommodate for situations that are out of your control. You may be in situations where there might not be food that fits your eating habits, but get creative and make it work for you. So you eat a hamburger with a white bun instead of a whole grain one... and a few chips...and a piece of that 4th of July cake your friend brought to the party. Oh well, it's one day and you will live. Don't let one slip-up cause a crazy binge and ruin your whole week.