Heart-friendly treats that beat the summer heat

Summers in Pennsylvania are a magical thing. Backyard BBQs, camping, and family reunions seem to fill the calendars fast in the warm months of summer! With all these celebrations of life, it’s easy to start eating many of those tasty but not so heart-healthy summer treats. Fortunately, there are tons of ways to get your fix of summertime favorites and keep your heart in mind.

Here are some great tips to help you this summer.

Out with sour cream- in with yogurt!

Plain yogurt can be a great alternative to any recipe that calls for sour cream. Your family can’t get enough of grandma’s chip dip? Try yogurt! You save fat and calories and it tastes like sour cream so your potluck guests will be too happy eating it to notice it’s better for them! Try veggies over potato chips too for an added layer of healthy goodness.  

Hitting the trails? Try heart healthy snacks

Its so easy to live on unhealthy foods when you are hiking. Non-perishable and easy to grab and go sounds like the right move, but much of those go-to snacks for hiking can be loaded with sodium, sugar, and fat at levels that could affect your heart. Try your own trail mixes. Add nuts and some dried fruits and you have a great snack that will keep you sustained. Traveling with kids? Have them make their own for a treat they’ll be sure to love.

Ice cream making you scream? Try a banana whip!

Nothing is better than a sweet cold treat in the summer. As much as we’d like to, it’s probably not a great idea to choose ice cream for your everyday summer snack. But don’t worry, because here comes the banana whip! Banana whip is 2 frozen bananas blended together. That’s it. It’s that simple and super tasty! Add walnuts for added protein and deliciousness!

Living your best summer with your heart in mind is easy with the right tricks and tips that make summer fun and healthy for you and your family. So, get out there and live life with heart!