As always, holidays should be a time to enjoy friends and family while doing fun activities. It is okay to indulge, but unnecessary to go crazy. Here are few pointers that can help you to have a happy and healthy Fourth of July:

FRUIT SALADS

Fruit salads are a good replacement for the heavier desserts at parties, plus strawberries and blueberries are part of the color theme!

VEGGIE PLATTERS

A great substitute for chips & less bloating for your body if you will be hanging out all day in swim gear.

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.

DRINKING WATER

If you will be enjoying any alcoholic beverages, perhaps substitute a glass of water every other drink for optimal hydration. Also, being dehydrated makes you crave more salty foods than your body really needs.

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 may not be food that fit your eating habits, so get creative and make it work for you. If you eat a hamburger with a white bun instead of whole grains… and a maybe few chips…and possibly a piece of that 4th of July cake that your friend brought to the party. It’s okay, it’s only one day and you will live. Just be sure to get back on track the next day. You don’t want to let one slip-up cause a crazy binge and ruin your entire week.