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Article by Mel

Here in Montreal, summer really is the best time ever. Every restaurant opens up a terrace to sit outside, the local boroughs have pools and it seems that there is a new ice cream shop opening up every week. There are BBQs in the park, weekends at the chalet….. aaaaaah……dreams come true after a winter that pretty much lasted from early November to mid April.

But how do you get through summer without gaining 50 pounds and becoming completely reconditioned??? I mean you also want to enjoy the sun and live a little! It is possible.

Here are some of my little tips for a healthy-ish but fun filled summer:

LEAVE YOUR CAR AT HOME

Instead of driving to work, how about biking? Does your city have a bike share service? Here in Montreal you can pick up a bike down the street from your house and rent it just for your trip to the office. You can also be sure that there is a drop off station pretty close wherever you go.

SWEET DRINK TRAP

Oh yes… sooooo easy to fall into that one…. How about a fancy Starbucks drink? These Frappuccino Mocha Caramel Latte Extra Whip who knows what else creations… full of sugar and a gazillion calories? (Anyone remember the “Unicorn Latte”? I am still wondering if that thing glows in the dark…) 

Switch them for a cold brew or an iced almond milk latte. Or maybe an iced tea, unsweetened of course!

THE BOOZE TRAP

While we are talking about drinks…. Isn’t the nicest thing to go for an after work cocktail, sitting outside and enjoying the sunset? But maybe don’t do that with a Strawberry Margarita…. How about a Vodka Soda with some lime or a white wine Spritzer?  Chances are you’ll have less of a sugar hangover the next day and biking to work won’t feel as hard! Alcohol free beers are also a refreshing low calorie option!

THE ICE CREAM TRAP

What can I say….. it’s just so darn good. How about sticking with sorbet and taking the kiddie cone? When I go to Bilboquet with my daughters, I don’t even get my own cone anymore. I make sure they pick flavours I like (anything goes as long as it’s pink…) and jump in when they “need help” because they cannot keep up with the melting speed….but you know what’s my downfall? Iced coffee with a scoop of vanilla ice cream…….but I try to make it at home so I can be sure there is no added sugar in the coffee and the ice-cream is low fat, vegan or high protein.

POOL TIME

How about not just hanging by the pool but actually swimming a few laps? Or joining a water gymnastics class? Those things are no joke!! I thought I was in great shape and then I took a water gymnastic class where my baby floated around in a little boat and I swam laps, tread water and lifted funny looking foamy weights….KILLER!!

BBQ

My husband starts the grill when it is warmer than minus 10 outside, but I am pretty sure not everyone feels that way, so don’t just throw on your vegan burgers but also some vegetables and fruit! I personally really love grilled asparagus, portabella mushrooms and pineapple. You can pass that off as dessert too. (The pineapple… not the asparagus!!!) 

So with these tactics you should be well equipped to enjoy the summer!

Do you have any more healthy summer hacks? Leave them in the comments, I really want to hear them!!!

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