Dietician says summer is slim-down time

NEW YORK, May 21 (UPI) -- Summer brings better exercising weather and a greater choice of slimming foods so it is a perfect time to slim down, a U.S. dietitian advises.

This is not only a great time for sports, walking and swimming, but for making low-calorie seasonal fruits and vegetables the focus of meals, says Lynn Goldstein of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

"This time of year offers us a greater variety of healthy foods to choose from which makes this an ideal time to lose and keep weight off," Goldstein said in statement.

Among other ways to trim the fat this summer Goldstein and colleague Wahida Karmally suggest include:

-- Satisfying a sweet tooth with fresh, fat-free, nutritious fruits such as berries and melons instead of cakes, cookies and ice cream.

-- Cutting back on calories a week before special events to be able to indulge a little when celebrating, but continue to restrict the high-fat foods such as potato chips and mayonnaise-based salads.

-- Staying away from empty calories such as alcoholic beverages and sodas and instead filling up on water, seltzer, juice diluted with seltzer or low-fat milk.