All Credits Go To :  Lauren Holden

When all those invites for Summer barbecues start rolling in, the last thing you want is to skip the party just so you don't end up totally sidetracking your healthy-eating habits. If you still want to be social but aren't really up for eating all the delicious but sometimes unhealthy options a cookout offers — we also sometimes end up feeling bloated, lethargic, and low energy after attending a few too many Summer events — there are a few simple things you can do to stay healthy.

Watching your sugar, making the right cocktail choice, and even packing your own lunch can make a huge difference in your weight-loss goals. Find a few tips ahead, but don't forget, life is all about balance, and enjoying all the yummy food at your next BBQ is also 1,000 percent fine!

Skip the Buns

Hot dogs, hamburgers, and sausages are, of course, all over every Summer BBQ party, but they can add up in calories, fat, and carbs very quickly. My best advice: skip the buns. I promise you won't miss them!

Ask for a couple pieces of lettuce to wrap up your burger — protein style if you know that menu item from In-N-Out Burger. You'll love the crunch that a fresh chunk of romaine or iceberg lettuce gives, and you'll feel so much less full after you finish your meal (not like you need a power nap to keep going).

Load up your plate with healthy sides like tomatoes, sauerkraut (great for gut health), shredded lettuce, carrots, onions, and more veggies. This will add lots of volume to your meal without a ton of extra calories, so you will feel full and keep down that bloat since you will be retaining a lot less water due to fewer carbs in your meal.