Tasty alfresco feasts for all the family to enjoy
THE glorious weather er we are expecting this is week will whet all our ur appetites for picnics cs and lazy barbecues. Outdoor eating is one of the highlights of the warmer months, but there’s certainly no need to miss out on a social life just because you’ve committed to losing unwanted pounds in order to get fitter and healthier this summer.
Thanks to the flexibility of WeightWatchers’ PersonalPoints Programme, you can enjoy summer celebrations or long lunches with friends without sabotaging your weight-loss goals.
That’s why today, in the final part of our exclusive WW series to help you lose up to half a stone for the start of the holiday season, we’re focusing on tempting recipes for barbecues, picnics and outdoor buffets.
‘Many seasonal delicacies are perfect for alfresco meals — and the fresh vegetables, salads and berries we love to serve at summer picnics or buffets are also ZeroPoint foods or low in PersonalPoints, meaning you can serve yourself a generous portion of Mediterranean vegetables or asparagus, for instance, without tracking,’ says Jess O’Shea, a nutritionist at WeightWatchers.
Better still, you’ll add extra Points to your budget for every handful of nonstarchy veggies you eat. You could put these towards an indulgent pudding or a sweet treat at the end of the meal, if you fancy one.
ZeroPoint and low Point veggies are also great to grill — try a combination of mushrooms, pepper, sweetcorn and courgettes, for instance.
BUT don’t forget to track any sauces or dressings you add on top — or better still, look for ways to make your own using healthier ingredients, such as 0 per cent fromage frais or reduced-fat soured cream.
While many of us associate barbecues with sizzling sausages or chargrilled steaks, why not extend your repertoire to include other foods that are not so high in saturated fats — such as chicken kebabs or fish? Depending on your ZeroPoint food choices, these could also have a PersonalPoints value of 0 — or, if not, a low Point value.
Don’t forget the side dishes either — ‘There’s absolutely no reason this has to be a soggy bit of cucumber!’ says Jess O’Shea.
You’ll find plenty of inspiring and scrumptious suggestions here — from a crunchy red cabbage slaw (1 PersonalPoint) to Persian wild rice salad (1-5 PersonalPoints, depending on your budget and ZeroPoint food choices) or evena spicy tuna dip ( 4- 5 PersonalPoints).
‘If you know you’re going to a big event such as a birthday party, you can plan in advance to set aside weekly and rollover Points to ensure you can enjoy the event in style without worrying about anything,’ says Jess.
And don’t forget that you don’t need to run a 5K (unless that’s your thing!) — any activities you may do, whether it’s a walk, a game of rounders in the park, a cycle ride or even a spot of gardening, can earn you extra Points too.
*A recommended safe rate of weight loss is between ½lb and 2lb a week.