Fighting off summer’s food temptations
When it comes to healthy eating, summer is a dish of contradictions. We celebrate its arrival with watermelons and cherries and milkshakes and cheeseburgers. For every plate of Garden State goodness — farm-fresh corn and just-caught seafood — there are a slew of high-calorie treats: from creamy potato salad to boardwalk zeppoles. Throw in some cocktails on the deck and the dining out that comes with traveling and you’ve got a joyful challenge: to make good choices for health and weight management while enjoying the deliciousness of the season.

Most of us know the basics of this recipe: balancing food intake and physical activity; and eating a range of foods, especially fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meat and dairy products. And some simple strategies for healthy eating at home and when dining out can make putting that knowledge into practice a little easier.

Learn more about how planning and preparation can aid in making healthy eating choices in the current issue of New Jersey Countryside Magazine, available now at bookstores, on newsstands and by subscription. Click here to get one free bonus issue and save more than 80% on a subscription.