Summer is in full swing, and bathing suit season is upon us. There’s nothing worse than putting on a swimsuit when you’re feeling bloated and uncomfortable. As you probably know, our diets have a huge impact on how we look and feel. It’s so tempting to much on salty chips and sip sugary drinks while sitting by the pool, but if you focus on consuming mostly belly flattening foods, you will look and feel so much better.

Here are some suggestions.

Breakfast

Need a morning pick-me-up? Ditch the cereal and go for a smoothie instead. Check out this “Flat Belly Smoothie” from Prevention Magazine.

Did you know that hot sauce revs up your metabolism? If that’s your thang (although it’s surely not mine!) then pile it on your eggs and burn a few extra calories this morning!

Lunch

Salads are your friends. But it sandwiches are more up your alley, replace the bread with a wrap.

Also, these Arnold Sandwich Thins have half the calories of 2 slices of bread.

Dinner

Want a yummy appetizer but don’t want to pack on the pounds? Shrimp are a great source of lean protein. Pass on the calorie-rich artichoke dip, and order a shrimp cocktail instead.

Fire up the grill. Grilling allows you to bypass the heavy sauces and casseroles that tend to bulk you up. We love to marinate chicken breasts in lemon juice, olive oil and garlic, pound them flat and grill them until they are just cooked through but still moist and delicious. Fish is great grilled too.

Snacks

If you want to keep your middle slim and flat, try snacking on foods rich in potassium such as bananas, strawberries, spinach and broccoli. Potassium counter balances sodium and helps cut down on bloating.

Swap out salty chips for a bowl of tasty grape tomatoes. These are great for snacking, and at 30 calories per cup, you won’t feel an ounce of guilt. They are great to bring to the pool or the park to nibble on.

Or snack on cucumbers! Cucumbers are great for fighting the bloat because they are low in sodium and full of water.

Instead of heavy dips, use salsa instead. Salsa is great for dipping veggies, so you can skip the chips but still get that delicious crunch.

Almonds also make a great nutritious snack. Just one handful will keep you satisfied for hours.

When in doubt, cut out gluten. That has worked wonders for me!

How do you fight the bloat in the summertime? What are your favorite belly flattening foods?