Eating healthy and being physically active can be a fun part of parties and events. Great gatherings are easy to do when tasty, healthy foods from all the food groups are offered in a fun, active environment. Above all, focus on enjoying friends and family.

1. Make healthy habits part of your celebrations
Food and beverages are a part of an event, but they do not have to be the center of the occasion. Focus on activities to get people moving and enjoy being together. Play a new game like Freeze Tag:

One player is “It” When a player is tagged, he must remain frozen in place. He can be unfrozen if he is tagged by a non-”It” player. When all the players are frozen, a new It is chosen, and play begins again. Create your own fun games, or explore nature! It’s there, vast and usually free!

2. Make foods look festive
Add a few eye-catching fruits to a favorite dish or a new recipe. Decorate foods with nuts or seeds or use new shapes for vegetables. Create dishes with color – red and white raspberries with blueberries can be served as a patriotic treat alone, decorate a cake or fruit salad – or even make a flag fruit plate! If it looks good that’s half the battle!

Here’s a refreshing watermelon, feta cheese and basil salad.

3. Offer thirst quenches that please
Make fun ice cubes from 100% juice or add slices of fruit to make water more exciting. Create a “float” by adding a scoop of low-fat sorbet to seltzer water. Create infused waters adding fruit 24 hours before serving. Lemons, cut strawberries, adding herbs or cucumber slices. Use the color in the water to decorate for outdoor parties or entice others to drink more water!

4. Savor the flavor
Take time to pay attention to the taste of each bite of food. Spring and summer means outdoor grilling season! Enjoy the meal without TV, eat on the porch or patio and really taste each bite!

5. Make food pretty
Offer whole-grain crackers, a festive colorful veggie tray, make fruit kabobs, layer yogurt and fruit to create a sweet parfait. Use whole grains and veggies to make a savory, healthy salad. Fruits and veggies bring color to a meal!

6. Make moving part of every event
Being physically active makes everyone feel good. Dancing, moving, playing active games, wiggling, and giggling add fun to any gathering. Play flashlight tag, kick the can, create relay races or silly water activities on a hot day.

7. Try out some healthier recipes
Find ways to cut back on added sugars, salt, and saturated fat as you prepare your favorite recipes.

8. Keep it simple
Have others participate by contributing a healthy prepared dish, helping with the clean-up, or keeping the kids active and moving. Do BYOF (bring your own food) get togethers so everyone can enjoy – you host and have fun games but let everyone share in the cooking and clean-up.

9. Shop smart to eat smart
Save money by offering foods that fit your budget. Buy in-season produce at farmers markets or directly from the grower at their farm. When it costs less and tastes better.

10. Be a cheerleader for healthy habits
It’s never too early for adults to set an example. Keep in mind that children follow what the adults around them do — even at parties.

Enjoy everything about the great outdoors! Make food part of the celebration, but not the focus.

Celebrate Fun!

Time in Nature

Vitamin “O”