12 Quick Tips For a Sizzlin' Summer

1. Bargain Veggies

A quick money-saving tip we're glad we learned: Hit the farmers' market later in the day. There will be less to choose from, but vendors don't want to carry produce back home, so you can bargain with them and score great deals.

2. Pop Smarter Corn

Love to munch on popcorn during a relaxing movies-at-home night? For an instant health boost, trade your usual microwave brand for Pop Weaver Butter Flavor Microwave Popcorn, made with canola oil. Replacing partially hydrogenated oil with canola oil eliminates trans fats, cuts saturated fat in half, and adds inflammation-fighting omega-3s. Swapping saturated fats with polyunsaturated ones may slash your risk of heart disease by nearly 20%.

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3. No Sweat Workouts

Soaring temperatures don't have to slow you down or cancel your outdoor workouts completely. To keep cool, exercise in the morning or evening, stick to shaded trails, or wear light colors. And to help regulate your body temp, try these 3 tips:
1) Sip before you sweat. If you aren't hydrated, your body heats up faster and takes longer to produce sweat. 2) Let beads be. As sweat evaporates, it will help your skin cool down quicker.
3) Give it 7 days. Your body takes a week to acclimate to heat—until then, back off your intensity.

4. Sneaky Calorie Overload

Trying to be good while dining out on vacation? Watch for this common restaurant diet trap: Many "lite" options contain an average of 18% more calories than restaurant menus claim, report Tufts University researchers who analyzed the calorie content of 29 dishes promoted as "healthy" on national sit-down and fast-food restaurant menus. Beware these common calorie add-ons: 1) Larger portions, like thicker cuts of meat and extra veggies. If your serving looks oversize, save half the meal before you start, or leave a few bites on your plate. 2) Taste enhancers, like more oil, butter, cream, or sugar than the recipe calls for. Ask for sauces and dressings on the side, and use them sparingly.

Pop Quiz! Can You Guess the 400-Calorie Meal?

5. Slow Down to Firm Faster

In a rush to finish your toning routine? Believe it or not, slowing down your pace while you strength-train can yield better, faster results, says Prevention's fitness expert Chris Freytag. Here's how to do it: Every time you lower a dumbbell, slowly count to 4. A study from East Carolina University found that training this way nearly doubled women's strength just after 1 week, compared with a normal 2-count pace.

6. Red Flag For Your Heart

Skimping on fluids can take a scary toll on your heart! That's because your blood is 80% water, so if you don't replace what's lost every day, your blood thickens, which makes your heart work overtime and ups your heart attack risk. For an easy way to make sure you're getting enough fluids, weigh yourself after using the bathroom in the morning. If you're 2 pounds less than normal (and you're not trying to lose weight) you're likely dehydrated and should drink before doing anything vigorous, says cardiologist and Prevention advisor Arthur Agatston, M.D.

Also, watch for the 70/70 rule. When temperature and humidity both climb above that number, you enter the dehydration danger zone, according to the American Heart Association. Sip more water on these days.

7. Step Together Now

Round up the kids and lace up your sneakers! Tonight, you're taking a family neighborhood stroll for 20 minutes or so. Why? It's a great way to combine quality bonding with some easy exercise—something not nearly enough of us do. (Only 42% of families take walks together, a recent survey found.) Then, try to make it a nightly habit.

For friendly competition and motivation: Have everyone wear a pedometer, and count who takes the most steps in a day.

8. Sunburn Fix

Fell asleep in the sun? Oops. Undo the damage by dabbing distilled white vinegar on trouble spots. "The acetic acid is an anti-inflammatory that takes the sting out and soothes skin instantly," says Kansas City, MO, dermatologist Audrey Kunin, M.D., who knows firsthand that it works. Kunin's mother used it to ease the sting when she and her siblings got too much sun.

9. Perfect Picnic Picker

Looking for a tasty twist on ho-hum sandwiches? Use this idea from Prevention staffer Rachelle Vander Schaaf: Jazz up your basic ham and cheese sandwich by making it on raisin bread (lightly buttered, if you wish). "It's even better on fresh raisin buns," Vander Schaaf says. "I buy a dozen from my hometown bakery and toss the fixings in the cooler. We devour the sandwiches on picnics during road trips."

10. Blueberry Coconut Shake

Cool off with this creamy blended treat from Leslie Cerier, author of Gluten-Free Recipes for the Conscious Cook—great for an energizing breakfast or a healthy dessert. In a blender, combine 1 cup blueberries, ½ can light coconut milk, 2 ½ tablespoons almond butter (or any nut butter), 2 tablespoons water, 1 ½ tablespoons honey or maple syrup, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend until smooth (makes 2 servings). "It reminds me of the malted milkshakes I loved as a kid," she says.

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11. Shed Fat With Sunshine

Got treadmill burnout? Take your workout outdoors today for a bigger calorie burn. Research shows that you get a bigger boost in physical and mental energy when you exercise outdoors, compared with inside. And more daylight hours can naturally increase activity levels so you burn more calories. Research shows that 30% more women get active as the days get longer.

12. Easy Summer Stirfry

When it's too hot to turn on the oven, whip up a healthy stir-fry on the stovetop in five easy steps! Customize your dish with the seasonal ingredients you have on hand.

1. Prep all ingredients before you begin to cook. Main ingredients should be in bite-size pieces.

2. Cook your protein (meat, chicken, seafood, or tofu) first. Do this in two batches to maximize browning. Remove from pan.

3. Add vegetables to same pan; then spices and herbs like scallion, ginger, garlic, and crushed red-pepper flakes.

4. Whip up a simple sauce. This version goes well with beef, chicken, pork, or shrimp: Combine 1 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce, 1 Tbsp sherry, 2 tsp cornstarch, and 1 tsp sugar in medium bowl.

5. Pour in sauce and return meat (or other protein) to pan. Let everything cook together until sauce thickens slightly.

The World's Easiest, Yummiest, Most Filling Weight Loss Program!