COSTA MESA, Calif., May 31, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- One of the things that make summer so special is the picnic outing. Baskets filled with a rich assortment of traditional foods make for fond memories, but they can also play havoc with your waistline. According to Cynthia Stamper Graff, author of several diet books and the president and CEO of Lindora Medical Clinics, typical picnic foods like fried chicken, potato and macaroni salads, butter-smeared corn-on-the-cob, and fresh baked pies can pack on the calories and send your diet in the wrong direction. Graff says that you don't have to abandon fun summer outings if you implement a sound strategy for planning your picnic.
"The secret to summer fun is planning a picnic that offers all of the satisfying foods of the season, yet doesn't contain all of the unnecessary fat and calories that can throw your diet off track," said Graff, who oversees the nation's largest medically supervised weight control program. "A simple make-over will do the trick."
Among Graff's suggestions:
1) Substitute fried chicken with lean protein alternatives such as a
grilled chicken breast or salmon filet. BBQ and lemon-garlic can
spice up these favorite proteins. Also, kabobs (cubed portions
of lean proteins -- either beef, lamb, chicken, fish) are a fun
alternative.
2) Use pita or whole grain breads when making sandwiches and avoid
stuffing them with large quantities of packaged and fatty meats.
Instead use reasonable portions (3-5 oz.) of fresh turkey, chicken
or tuna and avoid using mayonnaise and other fat-laden condiments.
3) Instead of potato and macaroni salads, try a lower calorie and more
flavorful option like three-colored bell pepper salad with
Kalamata olives and onions in a light vinaigrette dressing. Or
try a cold green bean salad with sun-dried tomatoes and a light
dressing or a tomato and cucumber salad tossed in a light
vinaigrette.
4) Potato chips, pretzels, tortilla chips and salted nuts should be
replaced by healthier alternatives such as pita chips served with
hummus, fresh vegetables accompanied by a fat-free dip or something
as simple as the Japanese favorite, edamame (steamed soy beans in
the pod).
5) Alcoholic beverages and calorie laden soft drinks and old-fashioned
lemonade should be skipped altogether. Bottled water is a much
better substitute as is iced green tea for a dose of anti-oxidants
and energy for fun.
6) Pies, cookies, cakes and candy often go hand in hand when packing a
picnic lunch. Try strawberry shortcake, but substitute the cake
with an angel food version, avoid using glaze with the strawberries
and add a small dollop of fat-free whipped cream or Cool Whip.
Better yet, stick with the perennial picnic favorite, watermelon.
Cited as an authority by "The Today Show," "Good Morning America" and CNN as well as a number of nationally respected newspapers and magazines, Lindora Medical Clinics offers a multi-faceted, medically supervised program combining diet, moderate exercise and motivational tools to help patients become Lean for Life(r). Lindora is a member of the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management, a coalition composed of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Federal Trade Commission, Center for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health. For more information, call (800) LINDORA or visit www.lindora.com.