Memorial Day weekend is a beautiful American holiday. It’s a day to remember and honor those who died serving in the country’s armed forces. In this article, I will share how you can celebrate Memorial Day Weekend with 8 healthy strategies to get energized; not just for the weekend but also for kicking off the summer in a vibrant way.
There will be a Tall Ships Waterfront Festival with amazing ships, lots of food and drinks in my beautiful Philadelphia and, in my neighborhood, families will celebrate and enjoy backyard parties. This is not the time to worry about staying healthy, but rather a time to relax and follow these simple strategies for a more energized week after Memorial Day.
1 – Load up on healthy liquids. Prepare water bottles or pretty containers with lemon or cucumber slices, mint, strawberries, etc. and drink them throughout the weekend.
2 – Add a bit of extra healthy fat to your meals. Extra avocado, almond butter or olive oil will help keep you satiated longer and will provide you with plenty of energy.
3 – Go Green and Lean. Load up on healthy proteins with massive amounts of veggies (this applies even if you are going out). I’m not talking only salads. Include raw, grilled or sautéed veggies to your meals and snacks because they offer an excellent source of energy and fiber.
4 – Snack smart. Opt for unsalted nuts, green apples with almond butter, two squares of 80% chocolate or go for a simple mini smoothie (a bunch of spinach, almond milk, almond butter, cinnamon and half a banana for sweetness.)
5 – Carry simple snacks with you, at all times. Nuts are my favorite but you can also carry raw veggies, almond butter, green apples, water, etc. Anything that you can safely fit in a zip bag or small container will do!
6 – Don’t forget to move! You can stand up every hour. (There is a great app for this that I use called Strides and it’s free.) Go for a walk before or after eating. Moving throughout the day keeps your blood circulating and flushes out toxins. (Drink a lot of water after moving!)
Note: This is not in lieu of your workout; this is your easy movement for the day. After all, it’s a perfect weekend for a nice workout outside.
7 – Dining out? Lucky you! Have nuts before you arrive to your destination; drink water first; don’t snack on simple carbs such as bread, crackers or pretzels. Choose high quality proteins such as sheep cheeses, shrimp, fish, lentils and the like, which is common when dining out. You will be more satiated and more likely to eat less and keep your body in fat burning mode all night.
8 – Keep your GOAL in the forefront of your mind and please enjoy mindfully. For example if you really want a glass of wine, go ahead and indulge. Enjoy it, Savor it slowly. Save some for dessert, and DO NOT feel guilty afterwards. Make the whole experience pleasurable. Your body will thank you especially when it’s time to go back to work on Tuesday.
Most importantly, enjoy and celebrate Memorial Day Weekend and remember why we honor this great American holiday!
