During the summertime, it may be difficult to think of ways to keep up with the healthy lifestyle. After all, summer is all about ice cream, cooling off in the shade, and drinking sweet lemonade. Despite this, there are multiple health tricks and ideas that can keep you from falling off the healthy track, yet still make you feel like you’re in the spirit of summer. Below is a list of tips you should definitely consider this summer:

1. Add cucumber slices to your ice water.

There are many benefits to cucumber water, from keeping your skin clear to lowering your blood pressure. It will also keep you hydrated and feeling refreshed throughout the day. Click the link to learn more about the benefits of cucumber water: https://www.lajollamom.com/drink-cucumber-water-health/

2. Morning power smoothies for breakfast.

Fruits contain many vitamins and minerals and are naturally sweetened. Plus, the fruits break down into a sugar called fructose, which, before storing in the liver as an energy source, flows through the body providing immediate energy. This makes a smoothie with fruit the perfect wake-me-up drink. Just make sure to use no more than a half a cup of fruit in your smoothie so your sugar intake is not too high.

3. Take a morning swim.

Many tend to underestimate the energy exerted during a swim. One can burn over 1000 calories an hour from doing laps in the pool. Not only will a morning swim help burn calories, but it will allow for you to feel refreshed rather than overheated as you do your exercise.

4. Get creative with Salad!

There are so many different ways one can turn a simple salad into a summer salad. One example is a watermelon salad: watermelon slices over a bed of arugula drizzled with olive oil with fresh cracked salt and pepper and crumbled feta cheese. This is a light appetizer that seems fancy but is really super simple to put together. Rather than the heavier salads you usually see during the summer, for example, pasta salad, this is a much lighter option.

5. Be active at the beach!

Instead of laying out at the beach for the entire time you’re there, make sure to play fun games or swim in the ocean against some waves. These activities are fun and help to burn off some extra calories. (Just be sure to wear — and reapply — sunscreen)

6. Mix and match your veggies.

During the summer the barbecue is in action. So why not take advantage of it and roast mixed veggie skewers. The charred flavor from the grill adds another element to the vegetables. A veggie combination to consider is: peppers, onions, and eggplant cubes. You can even drizzle over balsamic and olive oil to add some extra flavor to the veggie skewers.

7. Be adventurous!

There are so many fun outdoor activities you can take advantage of in the summer that you cannot in the winter. For example, hiking a mountain, or going on a family canoe trip. These activities are a bit more vigorous than the typical summer activity. They can challenge you, really testing your limits. Plus, these activities can help to burn over thousands of calories since they tend to take a while to complete.

8. Make sweet lemonade (healthy style).

In a normal glass of sweet lemonade, there are dozens of sugars floating around. However, there is a much healthier to enjoy lemonade without all the sugar. First, Squeeze a whole lemon into a 20 oz glass. Then, fill the glass with 18 oz of water and add ¼ to ½ teaspoons of stevia (or until it is at your desired sweetness), and stir. Finally, crush mint leaves into the beverage, add some ice, and voila, the perfect sweet lemonade.