Eating Lighter, Eating Smarter – Lunch

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Special occasions
There are countless opportunities to celebrate special occasions with a sumptuous lunch. Outdoor barbecues on summer holidays, birthday parties, graduation parties, beach- or poolside parties, the list goes on and on.

Special occasions are also a time when most of us are tempted to let our guard down and indulge. While there’s nothing wrong with getting into a party spirit once in a while, you don’t have to throw all caution to the wind and lose control entirely over your food intake.

If you serve grilled hamburgers, buy the leanest ground beef you can find. If you can live without the cheese on top, you save yourself a lot of additional calories and fat. Chicken meat is generally lighter than beef, but keep in mind that a lot of fat is in the skin and also the sauce. Baked beans are a popular side dish for barbecued meats, but a bean salad is not as heavy. Chips and dips are hidden sources of many extra calories because one can easily lose count of them. Apple pie with ice cream may be an all-American tradition, but a fruit salad for dessert leaves you much less stuffed at the end of your meal.

Spa menu
You don’t have to be on a diet to enjoy a nice lunch at the health club or spa. What’s important is that you get all the nutrients your body needs without eating too many empty calories and fat.

Especially after a workout, you need to replenish your body’s resources. For a good supply of protein, you can enjoy lean meats or fish. Pasta can be a good choice, but choose your sauces carefully. Soups made from scratch are very nutritious, but calorie- and fat content can vary considerably. The same goes for salads. A Caesar salad may call your name, but some simple mixed greens are much easier to digest. And don’t forget to choose a light dressing.

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