Barbecue season is officially upon us! Memorial Day weekend means the start of fun in the sun, but also endless summer treats and drinks! Not exactly bikini (or Speedo) friendly, right? Well, have no fear. I’ve been dreading the calories that come along with BBQ’s and summer parties for years and I want to share with you all the tricks I’ve learned along the way!

Now if you are the one hosting, it’s a no brainer what you need to do to stay on track. First, is make dishes for every course that are meal plan approved! If you feel uncomfortable measuring out your food in front of company, then do it before they arrive and put it aside for when it is time to eat. Just make sure you don’t go back for seconds! However, it’s not always that easy. Most likely it will be someone else hosting and then you will need to have a few more tricks up your sleeve. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

The first rule is never go to a party hungry! Make sure you eat something healthy and filling before you go. My go to is my shake. It’s extremely filling, and convenient so I can simply make it and take it with me for the car ride over. Try this trick and I guarantee you won’t jump the appetizer table as soon as you get there!

Next, you would never go to someone’s house empty handed, right? So bring something you know you can enjoy guilt free! Ask yourself this question before deciding what would be best to bring- what is my downfall when I go to a BBQ? What I mean by that is are you the kind of person who plops down in front of the chip and dip bowl, or do you have a sweet tooth for everything on the dessert table? If appetizers are your thing, bring something you know will help distract you from them, like a veggie tray. Or, make your own healthier dip to bring along with a bag of pretzels or tortilla chips that will be a much healthier option than the potato chips or cheese doodles. If dessert is your thing, bring something you know you can eat and not blow a whole weeks worth of calories on. It’s also important to choose a seat that’s not within arms reach of any of the food. Pick a seat that’s off to the side or in a nice relaxing shady area. And hold a glass of water at all times. Sometimes we just need something to keep our hands occupied.

Now to tackle the entrees. If a garden salad is an option, fill up on that first. It’s also a great way to get in that burger you were craving. Cut it up and top your salad with it! Remember, the key isn’t to deprive yourself, but to eat smarter. So you can still have your burger, just eat it without the bread. Or if they have a topping station for the burgers, cut the burger in strips and make a lettuce wrap with a leaf of ice berg lettuce. And here’s a great tip you may not know- if you are a hot dog person like me, they make fat free hot dogs! They have very little calories per hot dog when compared to regular ones, and no fat! You can have two for hardly any calories. Don’t feel embarrassed to bring them and ask the cook to stick two on the grill for you! While you don’t want to make eating hot dogs a habit, we are looking to survive a BBQ here without totally depriving ourselves! Oh, and if you need to have your dog on a bun, don’t forget your fat free buns! They are hard to find, but Shoprite makes a good one. Lastly, stay away from any creamy salads like potato salad or macaroni salad. They are loaded with extra, unnecessary calories.

Tomorrow I will be providing you with BBQ recipes and ideas so stay tuned!

And remember, if all else fails, keep sticking sugar free gum in your mouth!!!