FINE WEATHER HEALTHY EATING ....

 Picnicking at the zoo with the flamingos ... 

Hi, everyone,

I hope you all had a fantastic fourth of July weekend.

My day was incredible. Chicago at it's finest. Clear blue skies, in the 80's with a cool breeze. I spent part of the morning biking the lakefront for about fifteen miles. After parking the bike, I power-walked a few miles down to my favorite beach, sunned a bit and headed back. I was back at the condo by one.

I planeed to have a picnic at the zoo with friends so I prepared an awesome healthy feast and headed over to the zoo. One thing I LOVE about my condo is that it's a ten minute walk to the zoo.

How about you? Did you spend your day out in the sunshine?

Now as you know on Tuesdays I feature a post on a healthier lifestyle. I hope you all didn't fill up on too many hotdogs, hamburgers, potato salad, chips, dips, etc.

I for one LOVE all the previous foods I just mentioned. I know, it's a holiday and it only comes once a year.... that was my excuse too. Stop fooling yourself. You will NEVER be fit and healthy eating these foods.

Hotdogs are filled with nitrates, fats, salt, and chemicals. Hamburger meat is just as bad unless you are eating organic, grass fed beef. Any food with mayonnaise, white potatoes, macaroni(as in salad) chips of all kinds, even pretzels(too much salt) Useless carbs and fats pack on the pounds and make us sluggish and lethargic. Who wants to move after eating all this? Don't you just want to flop on a chaise, sofa, chair and fall asleep?

It't time to re-think your fine weather eating. Today I am going to give you some DELICIOUS alternatives, and you will feel alert and want to play some frisbee, softball, volleyball, take a bike ride or just go for a delightful walk.

For my picnic today I grilled two grass fed organic burgers and wrapped them in foil. I also made a fresh tuna salad, and not the kind you think...  First grate fresh ginger and rub on a fresh tuna steak. Grill tuna medium or well and the let cool off. Pull apart tuna with a fork, add diced celery, chop seedless tomatoes,  finely chopped shallots, and shredded romaine lettuce and mix. It's light and delicious with no added oils or mayonnaise.

I also brought along, almonds, fresh bing cherries, sliced tomato for the burger, and a bit of white cheddar cheese. So I covered, crunchy, sweet, meaty, cheesy, and a salad. I felt satisfied and really enjoyed it. Seriously, once you get used to not eating the fats, starches, and sugars, you really can taste the deliciousness of the food itself.

Just remember you guys, these are on the extreme side. You can add a bit of olive oil on the tuna salad if you like. If you're add a bbq and have regular meat, cut down on the bread, have half a bun instead of a full and pile up lettuce, onion, pickles, etc. Ketchup is loaded with sugar, but mustard is fine. If you can low fat cheese is better.  If you must have hotdogs get Hebrew National. Pierce them and par boil them before grilling, It gets out the oils and salts. Many of these meats are LOADED with salt and you will maintain excess water. Cutting salt is really healthy especially ANYONE who has high blood pressure or has it in their family. Why push it. We can fight back.

Well, that's it for this week. More fun recipes and tips next week. Let me know how healthy you spent this weekend through diet and exercise.... Share your tips....  I'd love to know them.