Staying Healthy This August!

08/11/16

Happy August! It’s sizzling outside so be sure to stay hydrated. What to drink? Everyone knows H2O’s the way to go. Sugary beverages are often marketed to kids by athletes. Sports stars may be active enough to need them, but most kids don’t. bottle of a sports drink has as much sugar as 35 jelly beans! Skip the sweet stuff and drink water instead. And juice has just as much sugar as soda-sometimes even more. Whole fruit on the other hand is a great choice and can quench your thirst and sweet tooth at the same time. Choose a fluid-filled fruit like watermelon which is 92% water. Enjoy this sweet, juicy treat throughout the summer, but especially on August 3rd National Watermelon Day. Fine to have plenty of fruit this month, but take it easy with the marshmallows which are celebrated on National S’mores Day August 10th and National Marshmallow Toasting Day on August 30th. Those squishy, gooey candies are fine to enjoy in small quantities, but remember just like sugary drinks, sugary foods make you sluggish & cause cavities. Want something else that’s white and creamy to satisfy a sweet tooth? You may be thinking ice cream, but the sugar & fat can make you sluggish. Freeze light yogurt to make healthier yogurt-pops instead. Or try some protein-packed plain Greek yogurt with frozen berries for a sweet treat that won’t slow you down. Still feel the need to toast something around the campfire with your family and friends? How about a baked apple? Take out the core, put a little butter and sugar inside. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Wrap in foil. Place on campfire coals and check every 10-15 minutes. Apples have fiber so they help keep you feeling fuller longer than marshmallows—and they’re definitely more nutritious. And as the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away so you have more time for fun outside instead of sick in bed!Happy August!