Spring has sprung and summer is on the way! Most women are thinking about the bathing suits they will soon be putting on which often opens the door for fad diets and crazy eating patterns. After all, who cares if you look good in your bikini right? WRONG! A bikini is no fun if you have no energy or feel starving! The key is to be smart about building a strong and healthy body. This month we are focusing on the things to toss, things to consider and things to include in your bikini prep eating.  Here are 5 things to toss:

1. Sugary beverages: While many people think about soda when it comes to sugar-sweetened beverages, you might want to check out your fancy coffee drink, morning smoothie or fresh-pressed juice. While some of these options can be fine, many are loaded with calories that typically don’t make you feel full. So, don’t just look at what you eat, look at what you drink too.
2. Rainbow foods: To point one, cut out the processed food! If you eat foods that have the colors of the rainbow on or in them (i.e. sugary cereals, snack foods, bars, etc.), unless it is fresh fruit, cut it out! These foods are likely to have lots of added sugar and lowering your sugar intake will help you want less of it. Hard to believe, I know, but it is true!
3. Bite-size traps: Many women get caught in bite size traps like candy, cereal, 100 calorie packs, etc. Without realizing it, you can eat hundreds of calories without ever feeling full.  Even some healthy foods like nuts and trail mix can get people in trouble. If you buy a food like nuts, be sure to purchase some snack baggies too! Get home from the store and pre-baggie the whole bag. It will help your decision making later!
4. High-calorie snacks: You should have to leave your house to get ice cream or cookies!  It’s not to say you cannot have a treat once or twice a week, but if the food is in your house, you might eat extra. Think about it, if you really want to eat ice cream, but have get out at night, drive 10 minutes to the store then drive back and eat it, you are less likely to do it versus if you have to walk 10 steps to your freezer.
5. Anything you might overeat: Any food can be tempting for anyone. For some people it is candy, for some it is peanut butter. For some it is cookies, for some whole wheat pita chips. Anything you overeat can be problematic when trying to lean out. Even some foods deemed “healthy” can be a problem if you eat ten servings of it. So, you have one of two options: 1) Pre-baggie or buy individual servings of your tempting food or 2) Don’t buy it. Help your efforts by cleaning out foods that you know create challenges for you. If you do this, you are more likely to set yourself up for success.