Cheap Summer Outings and Affordable Adventures

Are you looking for some ideas to get out of the typical rut this summer? Consider planning some cheap summer outings and affordable adventures for your family. Here are some ideas for what to see and do with your kids this summer:

1. Pick your “salad” – Whether you are making a vegetable salad or a fruit salad, local farmers welcome families to come pick from their farms. If you don’t know of a farm nearby, go to www.pickyourown.org to find local farms in your area and learn about the types of fruits and vegetables they are growing.
2. Museums – Another cheap summer outing is a visit to a local museum. This is a great way to get some exercise and learn something new and interesting. Museums abound in every state. Visit aam-us.org to learn about the museums in your area. Just enter your state, and the website will give you a list of every museum available to you. Decide what interests you most and off you go! To add some extra fun for the kids, many museums have “I Spy” scavenger hunts, and if they don’t, consider making your own before you go. Alternatively, play a traditional game of “I Spy” as you walk through the museum, by saying “I Spy…” when you want to draw your kids’ attention to something interesting. See if they can find the item you chose, and then give them a turn to challenge you to spot something that’s interesting to them!
3. Go Swimming – You may already have a pool that you frequent in the summer, but it can be fun to try out a “new” pool. Many community centers and cities have water parks or leisure pools, many of which are inside, which means that weather is never a problem. These pools often have slides, climbing toys in the water, and other fun activities like water volleyball or water basketball. Use the Internet to see if you can find a pool you have never been to. Your kids will think you are the best! Before buying tickets, be sure to ask about discounts for groups and then get together with some friends to save money!
4. Factory Tours – Have you ever wondered how things are made? You can find factories that make everything from tea at Celestial Seasonings in Colorado, to jelly beans at the Jelly Belly Candy Factory in Northern California, to Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream in Vermont. Many factories offer public tours. Find one in your area by going to www.factorytoursusa.com.
5. Four-Legged Fun – Kids love animals and there are a variety of ways to see them and learn more about them. Of course the local zoo is a great place to see many different animals but sometimes going off the beaten path is more fun. Use the Internet to search for “exotic animal farms” near you, or check with a local veterinarian for ideas on local animal attractions.

Before planning your outing, be sure to:

• Call the place you will be visiting the day before to make sure they will be open and to confirm their hours of operation. In addition, ask whether they will be accommodating any large groups, such as school or camp field trips, on the day you plan to visit.
• Tuesdays are a great day of the week to hold your adventure because places are generally open and the crowds are small. Coupons are often offered for mid-week visitors, as well.
• Before you take off on your cheap summer outing, search the Internet to see if you can find coupons or call and ask each facility if they offer discounts during certain days of the week.
• Bring lots of water and pack a cooler filled with lunch and some healthy. You never know whether there will be a convenient place to eat, and if there is, it probably won’t be healthy.
• Call or visit the Chamber of Commerce in the city you will be visiting. They often have great information, brochures, and even coupons.
• Don’t forget to bring your camera along on all of your cheap summer outings and adventures, as you will surely encounter multiple “Kodak Moments” along the way.

Develop Your Own Customized Healthy Diet Plan

Eating a healthy diet doesn’t have to be complicated, and it isn’t only for people who want to lose weight. Everyone who wants to be healthy can benefit from developing a customized healthy diet plan with the following tips:

• Choose nutrient-dense foods, which contain lots of nutrients, but are low in calories. These include fresh fruit, whole grains (including whole-grain cereals and brown rice), low fat dairy products, lean meats such as chicken and turkey, fresh fish, beans/legumes, and lots of vegetables. These whole foods are satisfying and won’t cause you to be hungry again an hour later.
• Fill up on fiber. A healthy diet plan also needs to include fiber. It’s calorie-free and filling. It also slows fat storage, because it digests slowly and helps your body maintain an even blood sugar. Here’s a challenge: eat a high-fiber breakfast and see how many fewer cravings you have throughout the day. Also, don’t forget to increase your water intake when you add fiber to your diet. No one likes to be constipated.
• Cut out the bad fats and incorporate good fats. Fatty foods are more fattening than high-protein, high-carbohydrate foods. Choose low-fat dairy products, trim the skin from your chicken, add an avocado, raw nuts, or seeds to your salad, and opt for tuna packed in water instead of oil.
• Eat early. A healthy diet plan needs to include timing, as well. Give your body a chance to digest and burn off indulgences before bedtime.
• Ahhhh, water does the body good. Even though you get some water from some foods, it’s best to drink up! Adults should consume approximately 1/2 ounce of water for every pound of body weight, and children should consume approximately 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight.
• Play! Shhh! Some call this exercise. We’re all just big kids, so do whatever is fun to you and do it every day!

Use these tips to build your own customized healthy diet plan.  By taking small “baby steps” every day, your body will adjust to the changes, and you’ll quickly notice how much better you feel!