Published: July 15, 2008 09:44 pm            

Chill out: Keeping cool in summer heat

Summer brings nights on the terrace, picnics on the beach - and stifling heat. It’s important to find ways to keep cool, so Weight Watchers® has a few tips and recipes to help you keep cool without sacrificing a healthier lifestyle.

Shaping Up.

When it’s too hot to jog outside, take it indoors.

• An indoor track is ideal for speed drills. Walk at a moderate pace and speed up every fourth lap.

• Love shopping? Then kill two birds with one stone, and walk the mall for one to two hours while shopping for the latest summer fashions.

• For a more tranquil environment and a less intense walk, go for a one-hour stroll at a botanical garden.

Hello Hydration.

Drinking water and staying hydrated is important. But what’s better — tap or bottled?

One isn’t better than the other because they both have high standards of regulation. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables will contribute to your water intake, as well. When basking in the sun, avoid alcohol, which can dehydrate the body.

Soaking Up the Sun.

Before hitting the beach, stock up your bag with the essentials - sun screen, beach towel and a good book.

For a beachside snack, don’t forget to pack a cooler with lots of water and deliciously creamy and refreshing Weight Watchers Ice Cream bars.

They are portable and come in flavors like Chocolate Mousse, English Toffee Crunch, Giant Cookies & Cream or Giant Latté.

Eating Light.

When preparing for the next picnic or back yard barbeque, experiment with sensible foods or menu items that include fruits, vegetables, whole wheat options and foods high in protein and fiber.

• For a luscious appetizer, try wrapping kiwi in a slice of prosciutto.

• Instead of serving traditional pigs in a blanket, pair mini-dogs with a zesty fat free tomato, mayonnaise, mustard and scallion dipping sauce.

• For an entrée that everyone will enjoy, make a pizza with whole-wheat flour tortillas, sour cream, thinly sliced smoked salmon, fresh basil and onion.

• Include seasonal fruits and vegetables with dips made from low-fat or fat-free yogurt instead of mayonnaise or creamy dressings.

Too “Clothes” for Comfort.

With the summer heat comes the summer sweat. Dress as lightly as possible to allow the added moisture to evaporate from your body. Light-colored fabrics that are roomy and let the skin breathe are ideal for summer temperatures.

End-of-the Day Quencher.

Treats don’t have to be high in calories. To quench your taste buds at the end of a hot day, indulge in a Weight Watchers Ice Cream Cup. Ranging from 140 to 170 calories and with only 1.5 to 5 grams of fat per serving, these decadent ice cream cups are available in Mint Chocolate Chip, Turtle Sundae, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough or Chocolate Fudge Brownie.

For other tasty summer recipes visit www.weightwatchers.com/sensiblefoods.



Ice Cream Sandwich Fruit Tarte

Prep: 8 minutes

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 Weight Watchers Round Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich

3 medium strawberries, hulled and halved

1 medium peach, thinly sliced

1 medium kiwifruit, peeled and diced

Directions:

Slice ice cream sandwich in half through ice cream so each half has a chocolate bottom. (For easier slicing, hold a sharp knife under hot running water for 30 seconds before cutting the ice cream sandwich in half.)

Place on two plates, chocolate sides down. Divide strawberries, peaches and kiwi on top of each ice cream sandwich half and serve.

Per serving (1/2 sandwich): 150 Calories, 3.5 g Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 270 mg Sodium, 29 g Carbohydrate, 4 g Fiber, 4 g Protein, 6 percent Calcium. POINTS value: 2.

Multigrain Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches

Prep: 10 minutes

Serves 4 (1/2 waffle sandwich per serving)

Ingredients:

4 multigrain waffles, toasted

1/2 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced (divided)

2 Weight Watchers Giant Cookies & Cream Bars

Directions:

Once waffles have cooled to room temperature, place 1 ice cream bar on 1 waffle and remove wooden stick. Using butter knife, gently spread ice cream evenly across waffle.

Arrange 1/4 cup strawberries over ice cream, and place 1 waffle on top of strawberries and ice cream to form a sandwich. Repeat with remaining 2 waffles, ice-cream bar, and 1/4 cup strawberries. Cut both sandwiches in half and serve immediately.

Good Idea: Play around with different flavors for your ice cream sandwiches. Use different flavors of Weight Watchers Giant ice cream bars and pair them with your favorite fruits or berries. For example, try Weight Watchers Giant Chocolate Fudge Bar with sliced bananas.

Per serving (1/2 sandwich): 150 Calories, 3.5 g Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 270 mg Sodium, 29 g Carbohydrate, 4 g Fiber, 4 g Protein, 6 percent Calcium. POINTS value: 2.

Chocolate Latt… Milk Shakes

Prep: 10 minutes

Serves 6 (1 cup per serving)

Ingredients:

4 Weight Watchers Giant Latté Bars

4 Weight Watchers Giant Chocolate Fudge Bars

1 cup fat-free milk

12 ice cubes

2 bananas

Directions:

Remove wooden sticks from all ice-cream bars.

Combine all ingredients in blender and puree on high power until mixture is smooth and creamy, 2 to 4 minutes. Pour equal amounts into glasses and serve immediately.

The new Giant Latté Bar is a rich, coffee-flavored low-fat ice cream bar with only 90 calories, 1 gram of fat and 4 grams of fiber. Each serving has a POINTS value of 1.

Try It: Entertaining during cocktail hour? Give your milk shakes an extra kick by adding a splash of Kahlua or Godiva, but be sure to factor in the POINTS value.

Per serving (1 cup): 180 Calories, 1.5 g Fat, 0.5 g Saturated Fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 5 mg Cholesterol, 105 mg Sodium, 42 g Carbohydrate, 7 g Fiber, 6 g Protein, 25 percent Calcium. POINTS value: 3.

        

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