We all love celebrating Independence Day…the food, the fun, the fireworks, the family and friends…and celebrating how and why we have this country!

But along with the fun, can come some… not so fun… things. Exhaustion, heat, bugs, too much noise and food…they can all put a damper on the day and keep you from enjoying yourself and the people around you. Here are a few tips for you to try this year to make the day more fun and to keep you from crashing at the end of it.

Activities

Tip #1: Sun Screen! – This is usually a day where we spend the majority of the time outside…in the sun. While it’s a good thing to soak up some Vitamin D and nice to get a little bit of a tan…red is a color you want to stay away from. Be sure to apply sunscreen throughout the day. BUT make sure you choose your protection carefully! Not all of them are good for you… and some are pretty toxic!

Tip #2: Be Active – It’s nice to sit around and visit with family, but getting up and being active can be an even better option. If you just sit around on a hot day, eating and not doing much, you can quickly become sluggish and tired…and that doesn’t feel too good. So, instead of grabbing more dessert, grab some friends and play a ball game or go a walk together…and be sure to follow these next two tips!

Food and Drink

Tip #1: Eat Light! – It’s not fun to have anything weigh down the fun activities of the day… and that also applies to food! Now this doesn’t mean that you can’t have your grilled meat and some of your other favorite 4th of July foods, but don’t go stuffing yourself. And opt for more fruits and vegetables instead of piling your plate high with chips and desserts. Your body won’t feel so groggy afterward and you’ll be lighter on your feet to enjoy the rest of the day’s fun and games!

Tip #2: Stay Hydrated! – And I don’t mean with soda and sweet tea and store bought lemonade. If you are out and about in the heat, make sure you are getting plenty of water. It doesn’t have to be bland and boring, though! I love making fruit infused water to add a little flavor. It is actually a lot of fun to experiment with different fruits to find your favorite, but here are two great ones to try for your patriotic celebration:

• Strawberries and blueberries – Get the color theme going AND take in some antioxidant at the same time!
• Watermelon and blackberries (or blueberries) – Who doesn’t love watermelon during the summer?? You can even amp up the fun and cut it into star shapes and drop in a few mint leaves for an extra cool zing!

Family and Friends

Tip #1: Laugh a Lot – There are very few medicines like the medicine of laughter! You are spending a day with friends and family, celebrating our country’s incredible history…take some time to let go of the stress of life and laugh with people you love.

Tip #2: Spend Time in History – While it’s great fun to hang out with family and friends, playing games and eating good food, I think it is important to remember the reason why we are even celebrating in the first place. We have a great history and have been given an awesome inheritance by our forefathers. It was because of what happened in history, and what they sacrificed that we have the freedoms, liberties and privileges we have this day. And why we can gather with our friends and families to have fun. God blessed this country because our forefathers sought to make Him the foundation…and they wanted those that came after to continue to care for that foundation. So take some time this 4th to remember the history of our country… and celebrate the actually reason for the holiday.

May this 4th of July be a day that we understand what it truly means to say:

God bless America!

Have you ever wondered why some fruits and vegetables only grow at certain times throughout the year…not all year ’round? Well, maybe that is because God only intended us to eat them at specific times…

WHY?

• They are fresher and better tasting. Now I KNOW you have bought produce from the store and have found it to taste much better and have such a good flavor at certain times, as opposed to others. Did you ever notice if it was one season versus another? When you eat (say…a strawberry) during the months when it grows naturally out in the garden as it was meant to be (as long as you don’t pick it too soon) you get a nice juicy berry flavor. Now, compare that to a strawberry you buy at the store during December. Harder, not much flavor or juice, and maybe even a bit sour, huh? Which would you rather eat?
• They are cheaper. It’s true!
• You get better nutrition from your foods when you consume them when they were naturally meant to be. 

Think about it: What if we were all back to growing all our own food? When would you be eating them? When they grow, right? RIGHT!

OK…so now that we have understood WHY we should eat foods in their proper season, let’s look at WHAT foods to eat in which season. Now, it also depends on where you live (as some foods are in season a little differently than in other places), but here are some main ones to get you started:

Spring/Summer Fruits and Vegetables:

Asparagus                                               Apricot

Beans                                                      Blackberries

Broccoli                                                   Blueberries

Cauliflower                                              Cantaloupe

Corn                                                        Cherries

Cucumber                                               Figs

Eggplant                                                 Grapes

Lettuce                                                    Kiwi

Peppers                                                   Mango

Summer Squash                                      Peaches

Tomatoes                                                 Pineapple

Zucchini                                                   Plum

                                                                 Raspberries

                                                                 Strawberries

                                                                 Watermelon

Fall/Winter Fruits and Vegetables:

Beans                                                    Apples

Broccoli                                                 Cranberries

Brussel Sprouts                                     Grapes

Cauliflower                                            Grapefruit

Cucumber                                              Lemon

Eggplant                                                Orange

Peppers                                                  Papaya

Pumpkins                                               Pear

Tomatoes                                               Persimmons

Winter Squash                                       Raspberries

                                                               Tangerines

So take the list and eat to your heart’s content! Bon Appetit!

“To everything there is a season…”

Summer is such a fun time! Lots of things to do… lots of sun… and all things hot… But amidst all the fun and games, comes some very important things to remember to make this a wonderful, fun and healthy summer for everyone! So how about some warnings, tips, and some ideas to get the summer fun started out right?

Warnings:

• Dehydration – With the heat and all the outdoor activities this season it is very easy to forget to drink enough water, and we sweat off more than we take in.
• Sunstroke – Along with dehydration comes this risk. Not drinking enough water has a lot to do with it, but other factors include not eating the right foods, eating the WRONG foods and drink and not allowing your body to cool down in intense heat.
• Sunburn (Sunscreen) – I think we all would like to avoid getting hot, crispy, red skin, so sunscreen is needed (especially around water). But we also need to be mindful of the sunscreen we use, since that can cause just as much damage as sunburn.
• Bugs (bug spray) – Bugs are a pest this time of year, aren’t they? Mosquitoes ESPECIALLY. So keep bug spray handy. Again, be mindful of the kind you use. I’ll talk more about this a little further down.

Tips:

• Drink plenty of water – One of the best things you can do during the summer. If you are sweating a lot, you need to be putting that water back into your body.
• Food (watermelon, strawberries, salad, chicken) – Eating foods in season is very delicious! And the summer season has some very wonderful choices to choose from to make these hot months a little easier on our bodies!
• Essential Oils – Many EOs have wonderful health benefits for the summer months: Tea Tree and Citronella help REPEL the bugs before they get to you, but if some manage to sneak past and bite you (the little devils ) Lavender helps soothe those itchy bug bites and also for sunburn relief, Orange and Lemon brighten up your day and can help you feel refreshed and ready for each hot day ahead, and Peppermint helps to keep away mosquitoes AND is a great cooling agent.
• Sunscreen (Don’t let the clouds fool you) – Keep in mind, even if the sun is hidden behind the clouds all day, you can still look like a tomato the next day.
• Drinks – It’s important to stay hydrated during the hot summer months. However, along with getting enough good hydrating liquids, you should also avoid the liquids that can DEHYDRATE you: Soda, Fruit Juice and Iced Coffee are some popular summer drinks that make it on the “Avoid It” list.

Fun Events: 

• Camping – Nothing like spending a few days in God’s beautiful nature! Remember to pack your bug spray!
• Swimming (keep a clean pool!) – A favorite summer pastime is getting into the water. Maybe swimming laps, having a water fight with your friends or family, or even just relaxing in the nice cool gentle waves.
• Picnics – Get the kids in car, pack the basket with lots of delicious healthy food (make sure the lemonade is ice cold), and let’s head to the lake!
• Sports – Summer is a great season to spend time outdoors. There are a lot of sports to play with friends, but be sure and bring water!

Tell me what some of your favorite summer past-times are, and what you like to do to stay healthy and active when the heat gets super intense!

Have a fantastic summer!