The Summer Detox, Chicago Style

Each year, Memorial Day to July Fourth is an eating-drinking whirlwind. The weather is warm and the opportunities to indulge are plentiful.

Between the baseball games (hot dogs, beers), barbecues (cheeseburgers, pasta salad), al fresco cocktail hours (mojitos, anyone?) and general indulgences (see previous posts on delice de bourgogne cheese, lobster rolls and one of the most high-calorie salads ever created), I'm about ready for a mid-summer detox.

But how can one detox in a hard-drinking, hard-eating city like Chicago?

Here are a few of my stand-by summer detoxing strategies:

Summer vegetable salad with crab cake.

• Keep it local, keep it simple: Whether you work/live in the city or the suburbs, the access to local farmers' markets is outstanding. I try and take advantage of the markets as much as possible in the summer, but especially so when I'm trying to eat clean, vitamin-rich foods. If it's in season, it's probably delicious. If I'm looking for some inspiration, I'll turn to Mark Bittman's Minimalist archive in the New York Times for recipes and ideas, all of which are simple, delicious and rely on fresh ingredients.
  
• Get it Delivered: Can't make it to the farmer's market? Have fresh, organic produce shipped to your door. Services like Door to Door Organics and Peapod ensure your fridge stays packed fresh with fruit and vegetables.
• Eat the Rainbow: Summer's bounty yields a ton of delicious fruits and vegetables. I try and make my meals as colorful as possible. If your dinner has reds, greens, yellows and oranges, chances are it's pretty healthy.
• Meatless Monday's...Tuesday's...Wednesday's...: When I'm trying to detox in the summer, I try to rely on fish such as tuna and salmon. Both options are light in hot weather, cook quickly on the grill and can be found in most restaurants. Sticking with this strategy was particularly helpful at recent work lunches at Rosebud Prime and Smith & Wollensky. In both cases, I opted for simple, seared tuna dishes in lieue of the heavy (though admittedly delicious) steaks both venerable institutions are known for. I'll get back there for the steaks one of these weeks.
• Sushi: An Eat Out Go-To: Whether I'm meeting a friend for dinner or ordering in, sushi is a healthy, balanced option IF you order correctly. Sticking with simple maki rolls (tuna and avocado, yellow tail and scallion) and sushi/sashimi pieces is key. While it's tempting to order the "Big Macs of Sushi" (Butterfly's Hurricane roll is by far favorite), I find the lighter sushi to be just as satisfying.

Eating light in the summer can be difficult, but when all else fails, turn to the lakefront. Take a long walk or a run or a bike ride. Breathe in the fresh air. Turn off your cell phone. Silence the voices that push deadlines and to-do lists. Ignore emails. After all, that's often what we need a detox from the most.