For a Flare Free 4th (and Summer!)
Happy July!
We’re officially in the last half of 2024 and screaming like a bottle rocket straight into the Fourth of July!
The 4th always reminds me of icy popsicles, parades, pool time and sparkles glittering at night. I can just smell the burgers wafting off the grill, and there’s nothing like nibbling a cold watermelon wedge to the rind while taking a break from the sun. What screams summer to you?
As fun as 4th of July parties are, summer get togethers can be a landmine of flare inducing foods that might leave you feeling terrible for the 5th, 6th or 7th of July.
Not this year though!
In the early days of eating differently to reverse my autoimmune symptoms, one of the harder parts of sticking to anti-inflammatory foods was during holidays and hangouts. I wanted to enjoy myself and not have to worry about setting off a flare, but when you aren’t sure what is in the food you’re expected to eat it can be stressful. Over the years I’ve become a foodie ninja and learned exactly what to do (and what not to do!) to have flare-free fun and fully participate in celebrations, and today I’m sharing some easy tips to help you have a happy and health forward 4th!
Make Simple Swaps
Burgers, brats and hotdog. Chips and dips and sides galore! July 4th (or any summer bash) is synonymous with food. Unfortunately, a lot of these fun, yummy foods are full of inflammatory ingredients and can leave you feeling wrecked the next day. But there are a ton of healthier options out there! You just need to know where to look. In my latest IG post, I shared a ton of traditional fun “summer” foods and their better-for-you counterparts.
Look for options like grass fed or pasture raised meats. No List: additives, artificial flavoring, food dyes, added nitrates, sugars and artificial sweeteners. You want to avoid monosodium glutamate (MSG) and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) too. Simple ingredient labels with ingredients you can pronounce are a plus.
Bring Your Own Food
Not sure if there will be anything you can eat? No problem! Bring your own food or a few different things for you to eat and share. I love introducing friends and family to new-to-them-brands. Most of the time, I find people are curious about what you’ve brought and enjoy discovering something new to try. Bring some better-for-you hotdogs that your BFF’s hubby can throw on the grill for you, and some healthier chips and dips to munch on. You’ll still get to enjoy the party and won’t miss out on delicious food.
Ask Questions
If you see something at the party that looks good, ask the host who brought it and ask the bringer what is in it. We love sharing recipes, don’t we? It could be perfectly safe for you to eat, but if you hear of a few ingredients you know are going to make you feel bad you won’t have heartache over forgoing the dish. Knowledge is power!
Be Prepared
If you know you’ll likely be out most of the day, have a few extra snacks in your bag that you know will hold you over until you’re back home. Some gluten free energy bars, homemade trail mix, or meat sticks can make the difference between you getting overly hungry and eating something you’ll regret or being perfectly satisfied throughout the whole day.
And last but not least….
Have FUN!
The whole point of accepting the invitation to the BBQ is to have a good time! If you bring foods you know you can comfortable chow down on, you’re eliminating a lot of fretting and stress right there. Once you get to the party, turn off your antennas and relax. Autoimmune can add so much hard to life, so when you get the chance to let loose, for your kiddos to get playtime with their friends so they give you a little break, and you have some much needed face-to-face friend time, Soak. It. In!
And if you happen to wake up day of and you’re feeling terribly, pull the sick card, guilt free. If you know you’re going to be miserable the entire time and truly need a day to rest on the couch instead of being “on,” bow out graciously and enjoy your day of peace and quiet. You deserve whatever type of 4th you are craving. Make it fun for you.
Wishing you a happy July and a wonderful 4th!
