The summer is in full bloom, and July 4th is here! Summertime is synonymous with BBQs, backyard and beach parties, cruises, and family vacations. While all of those things are obviously fun and often delicious, they often involve decisions that might not be so healthy and anti-inflammatory-friendly. Remember, diet plays a major role in chronic inflammation. You are in luck, though! You can enjoy summertime without wrecking havoc on your health.

Click on the links below for some healthy alternatives to your favorite summertime foods.

Here are 8 Healthy Food Alternatives for Summer Recipe Favorites

Healthy Substitutes for Your Favorite Summer Foods

When you are the most informed, you make the best choices. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet is actually quite simple, and once you get in the habit of it, you won’t even think twice about it. An anti-inflammatory diet is high in fiber, loaded with fruits and vegetables, rich in omega-3, spiced up with ginger, turmeric, and garlic, low in saturated fat, and very low (if you can’t completely eliminate) red meat, processed foods, refined sugars, and trans fats.

Side note: Juice Plus+ can help you with your omega-3 (plus 5, 6, 7, and 9) fruit and vegetable intake! Too easy!

While it will take time, when you cut out refined sugars, processed foods, trans fats, and red meat, your body will eventually stop craving them. This may be the most difficult part of changing your diet, but once your diet is free (or near-free) of these toxins, you will feel and look noticeably different. The best way to make changes in your diet and lifestyle is not necessarily by emptying out your entire pantry and making a sudden and drastic change (that approach might work for some, though you know yourself the best), but rather by taking small steps and making little changes every day.

You are more likely to succeed if your change is gradual. Try and add a bit more anti-inflammatory foods to your diet while taking away a little bit of the inflammatory-causing foods. You can see where this process of adding and eliminating will eventually take you. There is no better time to start taking care of yourself than the present!