Thursday, July 3, 2008

Stay “Healthy & Hydrated” by including Iced Tea!

Well into the summer social season, and with two more long weekends left before autumn hits, party planners are not wasting any time revving things up for this summer’s celebrations.

To make your summer celebrations a hit with family and friends, here are a few tips to make your party or gathering both memorable and healthy!

“Fun in the Sun” Hydration: For a refreshing, great tasting and calorie-free beverage, serve your guests freshly brewed Iced Tea. Not only does tea offer a range of potential health benefits, such as inhibition of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases, it’s also inexpensive when compared to other cold beverage choices, which is a great option for party planners on a budget. The world’s most widely consumed beverage (second only to water), tea is a great-tasting, calorie-free beverage that can be a satisfying part of a healthy diet – and a hit at your next party.

Fit & Healthy Snacking: Skip the chips and offer a bounty of seasonal fresh fruits and veggies for guests to snack on between swims. Your guests won’t get bogged down by heavy snacks or foods, and a diet rich in fruits and veggies can help protect them against a wide range of potential ailments, as well as helping to keep appetite in check. Offer a range of low-fat, low-sodium dip options to accompany the fresh produce.

All about Proteins and Safe-Grilling: Offer your guests lean poultry like turkey burgers and grilled chicken, or try fatty fish like salmon or mackerel, which are naturally high in healthy omega-3 fats. Just keep in mind the basics when it comes to food safety. Poultry must be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165° F (74° C), while fish should be cooked until it is opaque and flaky.

Good luck with your summer celebration this year, and don’t forget to make it a safe AND healthy one!

For more info on tea and health, please visit www.TeaUSA.org

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