Top 6 Summertime Foods for Weight Loss

Summer is here and it is a hot a busy one! So many fun holidays, activities and family outings, one barely has time shop, let alone plan healthy meals. Luckily, many find that it is a bit easier to make better food choices in summertime, when heavy, high-calorie dishes seem less appealing. The best foods for weight loss in summer are light, refreshing and, most important, keep you out of the hot kitchen.

The single easiest way to trim calories from your summer diet, experts say, is to load up on nature’s bounty. Produce is at its peak in summer. Delicious fruits and vegetables abound at farmers' markets and in your local grocery. Besides being low in calories, produce is loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.

With just a few WLS tweaks that I took the liberty of making, these top 6 summer foods for weight loss from Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD of www.webmd.com offer some great suggestions.

Best Summer Weight Loss Food No. 1: Chilled Soups

Chilled soups like gazpacho or cucumber-dill that contain lots of chunky vegetables are great choices as long as we add a protein source. Chicken or ground beef perhaps? We are often asked if soup and a liquid, how can I have soup when I can not drink with my meals? Well, be smart. Know your own body, your own nutritional needs and your own sense of satiety. Then make a good choice for yourself.

Best Summer Weight Loss Food No. 2: Watermelon

Who doesn’t love diving into a crisp, juicy slice of watermelon when it's hot outside? Half of the watermelon comes from water, they say. It’s a wonderful way to satisfy thirst and a yen for something sweet. Another great choice, cool, crisp, good for you and plentiful!

Best Summer Weight Loss Food No. 3: Grilled Veggies

For Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a plate of grilled vegetables is a summertime must-have. She recommends keeping a plate of grilled onions, bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, eggplant, asparagus, and garlic in your fridge. Once again, it is important for WLS patients to be mindful and deliberate about eating protein at every meal. Grilled veggies are great – along side your protein.

Best Summer Weight Loss Food No. 4: Salads

Salads make for quick, healthy meals -- with no recipes required.

"Just give the produce a quick rinse; slice, dice, toss fruits, vegetables, low-fat cheese, a handful of toasted nuts with some salad greens and a light raspberry or ginger vinaigrette, along with a whole-grain roll, and you have a meal in minutes," Add garbanzo or kidney beans, extra cheese and perhaps some chicken and you have the perfect summertime WLS meal. You might also flavor with lots of herbs so you can go light on the dressing.

Best Summer Weight Loss Food No. 5: Low- and No-Calorie Beverages

"Beverages can be the Achilles heel during summertime because we need to drink lots of liquids to stay cool, but liquids quench thirst and don’t usually impact our hunger," the article states. As always, WLS patients should avoid carbonated beverages but enjoy flavoring water with fresh fruit, mint leaves, and even vegetables like cucumbers. Also be mindful of even artificially sweetened beverages as you may find they too can activate your sweet tooth.

Best Summer Weight Loss Food No. 6: Fruit-Based Desserts

Or better yet, how about just fruit! I have long been a fan of whole fruit of all sorts, bananas, oranges, apples and pears, berries too are favorites. To add some interesting variety, try grilling, baking or freezing fruit. Frozen cherries and grapes are quick and easy and grilled pineapple and a sliced peach – well, a little summer heaven! One of my favorite afternoon pick me ups is simply frozen fruit (berries, pineapple, peaches, whatever I have on hand) a ½ cup of fat free, plain Greek yogurt and a bit of Stevia to sweeten. Blend it up for a cool, healthy treat.

Enjoy!