STAYING HYDRATED IN WARMER WEATHER

STAYING HYDRATED IN WARMER WEATHER
By Heidi Reichenberger McIndoo, MS RD LDN

As the temperature outside begins to climb, we slowly shed our winter layers and trade them in for swimsuits and t-shirts. That means, ladies, it's time to get comfortable in your own skin. It's time to feel good about your body image, make your wellness a priority and leave the stress of "dieting" behind you for good.

As a mom of two with a full-time job, I look for simple ways to bring my overall wellness to a healthy place. Here are a few tips that rank high on my list.

• Stay hydrated: With rising temperatures, more morning walks with the stroller, and hopefully a few extra minutes devoted to yoga, proper hydration should be top of mind. As a registered dietitian, one of my favorite hydration options to recommend is vitaminwater10. vitaminwater10 is the perfect low-calorie combination... it's only 10 calories per serving, naturally sweetened and it tastes great. It's also packed with the vitamins and nutrients you need throughout the day. Not to mention, dehydration can lead to headaches, sluggishness, dull skin, and more.

• Eat breakfast: Studies show that people who eat breakfast regularly are thinner and meet more of their nutritional needs than breakfast skippers. The morning meal often includes low-fat dairy foods and/or fruit, making for a good dose of calcium, protein, vitamins A, C, and more. For even more morning nutrition, grab a vitaminwater10 essential (orange-orange). It has all the vitamin C of orange juice and only 10% of the calories, plus, it's specially formulated with 9 important vitamins necessary for optimal health. No need to be fancy-a few simple breakfast ideas include: whole grain toast with peanut butter and a banana or low-fat yogurt and berries.

• Get enough fruits & veggies: They're packed with vitamins, minerals, disease-fighting antioxidants, and flavor with few calories. Plus, their fiber and water content help to fill you up making less room for less nutritious, higher calorie foods. Easy ways to boost your intake are tossing blueberries into your cereal, sprinkling dried cranberries onto your salad, or snacking on cubed melon or red pepper sticks.