Thinking about summer

With the return of warmer weather we'll probably be eating differently. It's time to plan some strategy.

Summer brings more abundant fresh fruits and vegetables. These are great choices for snacks. The more crunch, the better and the more colors, the better. Fresh fruit added to buttermilk, yogurt or skim milk makes great smoothies. Low sodium V-8 juice is good chilled plus has lots of vitamins and is tasty and low in carbs. Old fashioned aspics come to mind, too.

When you have a choice of slaw or potato salad, lean toward the slaw, which usually has fewer carbs. If you cook, you can make colorful new slaw by varying the ingredients and experimenting with the dressing. Low-fat cottage cheese and low-fat buttermilk can be good for a snack on a hot day, and handy when you create those new salad dressings. Mayonnaise has lots of fat and calories, so substitute lite mayo or fat-free sour cream when you can. When doing pasta salad, go with whole grain products. Add in more raw or steamed vegetables for color and nutrition.

Fast food is a major hazard, especially fried foods. Greasy things are loaded with calories, making for easy weight gain. Fried and fatty foods interfere with insulinís ability to work, too. Thereís nothing tender about chicken tenders.

Sugar-free jello and pudding satisfy our sweet tooth. Layer them parfait-style with lite cool whip. Cobblers can be made with splenda. A crunchy one made with oatmeal, nuts and/or dried fruits instead of sugar, flour and butter would be healthier. If you have an ice cream maker, you could make sherbets. Less cream means less fat means fewer complications for diabetics.

Be careful of cold drinks at picnics. Lemonades, sweet tea or soft drinks may be all there is. Think water. At least ask your host about the contents of those pitchers before gulping things down.

Out by the grille? Grill some fishfor a change. Go easy on portion size. Go light on sauces, mayo, and cheese too. Substitute vinegarbased marinades, mustards, and spice rubs to enhance flavors without so many carbs and calories. Play with some new herbs in place of fresh basil and dill!

Got your hot dog or hamburger? Nobody says you have to eat the whole bun. Have an extra slice of tomato or onion, more slaw or salad instead. By now the bun is soggy and tasteless anyhow.

To keep from being so hungry, take advantage of water, unsweetened drinks, salads and fresh vegetables before getting to your entrÈe. By then, youíll be less attracted to high fat/high calorie jumbo sized entrees. And dessert still awaits. Then your walk!

For more ideas, check at the Moss Library or www.dlife.org.

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