by Koren Wetmore

Summer's here and with it comes picnics and barbecues filled with high-fat, calorie-charged foods such as hamburgers and potato salad. But don't cancel your social invitations just yet. The season also brings a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables that, combined with mindful eating, offer delicious outdoor dining alternatives that boost your nutrition, not your waistline.

"Meals are a social event, they're not supposed to be a punishment," says licensed nutritionist Ann Yelmokas McDermott, Ph.D., research scientist with the USDA Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University in Boston. "You should be able to have a huge amount of food, if you plan for success."

The following tips will help you enjoy summertime dieting at its best.

Grill those veggies. Portobello mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, zucchini and onions can be cooked in large pieces on the grill. Brush them with olive oil, teriyaki sauce or marinade for flavor. Baby carrots will grill quicker when placed in a foil packet. "Just slice them up, sprinkle seasoning and drizzle a bit of olive oil on them so they don't dry out," says registered dietitian Marjorie Geiser, owner of Meg Fitness in Running Springs, Calif...

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