Beware of The Top 10 Most Fattening Foods of Summer

Gearing up for all those BBQs, pool parties, and family picnics? Seems that at all of those events high calorie foods are being served… right? This doesn’t always have to be so!

According to WebMD.com, summer is one of the times people eat the most fattening foods. Although people are generally more active during the summer, the extra exertion may not be enough compared to all the fattening foods that are consumed. The top 10 most fattening summer foods are:

Red Meats- T-Bone steaks, ribs and cheeseburgers all have an exponential amount of fat and calories. Try leaner cuts to grill instead.
Hot Dogs- who doesn’t love a hot dog during the summer? But these are usually packed with strange meats that have little nutritional value. Load your whole wheat hot dog bun with a turkey dog or chicken dog instead, they have great flavor and half the calories.
Got Mayo? Pasta salad, potato salad and chicken salad can put you over the edge on fat and calorie intake. Cut unnecessary calories by using the new mayo with olive oil and using half as much, then cut it with olive oil. The olive oil will help spread out the mayo. Or you could use vinegar versus mayo. Add lots of veggies to create more nutritional value.
‘Rita anyone? When summer arrives frozen concoctions sound delicious… but not when you know how many empty calories each drink holds. Frozen margaritas or frozen piña coladas can easily pack in 245-490 calories each. Instead try a wine spritzer.
Sugary beverages. During the summer months you sweat a lot and want that ice cold drink to quench your thirst… this drink should not be sweet tea or soda. Instead opt for water with lemon, water with fruit or unsweetened ice tea.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM! Ice cream seems to be a staple for summer, but it is very high in calories and fat. Choose sherbert, sorbet or fruit bars instead.
Carnival food. Carnivals can be a ton of family fun, but avoid the high calorie treats. Turkey legs can pack in over 1,000 calories… eat before you come or opt for the caramel apple instead.
Salad topper. Salads are delicious and refreshing during summer, but the nutritional meal option can be ruined by what you put on top. Choose a low-calorie dressing and tons of protein and veggies instead of bacon bits.
Baseball game treats. Steer clear of cheese nachos, potato chips or buttery popcorn. Opt for fruit or veggies.
Fried Chicken. Fried chicken is like poison to your arteries… if you must, eat ONE piece – but it’d be better to eat grilled chicken.