FASHION Magazine

As the temperatures rise, so do a lot of other things: higher hemlines, longer days and an ever-expanding desire to sit on a patio with friends, sipping on sangria and nibbling on appetizers.

Since there’s no better time to bare a bit of extra flesh than in the summer, it’s a bit ironic that it’s also one of the seasons that has some of the most dangerous nutritional perils. Hot dogs, frappuccinos, sugar-laden cocktails, steak… it’s a veritable nutritional minefield out there.

We tapped into two of the country’s leading experts on nutrition, fitness and overall health to give you six tips for how to sidestep summer’s nutritional pitfalls.

Read ahead to equip yourself with all six tips! »

If, between nonstop coverage of New York Fashion Week, you find yourself wanting something else to read, we’re here to help. Check out our picks for the top stories around our offices at St. Joseph Media (Engagement rings! Weight loss!) after the jump.

TEST OF TIME
Michelle Villett asked asked five women to reveal their diet, skin-care and exercise habits—and then got the world’s top anti-aging docs to weigh in.

HELEN MARA, 62
“I don’t have a problem with getting older—my attitude is ‘Bring it on!’” says Mara. “When my mother was my age, she looked like a grandmother, but I don’t think I do.” No wonder she models part-time with the Ben Barry Agency in Toronto. Although she personally has no plans to go under the knife (or needle), Mara says, “I think if it makes you feel better, go for it.”

TEST OF TIME
Michelle Villett asked asked five women to reveal their diet, skin-care and exercise habits—and then got the world’s top anti-aging docs to weigh in.

ANNE TILLMAN-GRAHAM, 54
“There are days when I look in the mirror and go ‘Whoa!’—that’s not how I feel. But you have to keep a sense of humour [about aging]. That, and wake up every morning loving what you’re going to do.” Besides her job as a Toronto-based marketing executive in the cosmetics industry, Tillman-Graham is passionate about fitness. “I’ve been running marathons since 1993, and I’ve done four triathlons. You become addicted to the adrenaline.”

TEST OF TIME
Michelle Villett asked asked five women to reveal their diet, skin-care and exercise habits—and then got the world’s top anti-aging docs to weigh in.

KIM VALLÉE, 42
“Looking good for my age has always concerned me, but I probably feel better today than when I was younger,” says Vallée, a Montreal-based lifestyle and entertaining expert. “I’m at a stage where all my dreams are at least possible or taking form in some way.” First up: the birth of her first child, a boy, this past March. “I think it’s important to live in the moment and to accept the aging process, because with each [decade] you experience something new.”

TEST OF TIME
Michelle Villett asked asked five women to reveal their diet, skin-care and exercise habits—and then got the world’s top anti-aging docs to weigh in.

CHARLENE SWALEHE, 30
When it comes to aging, “I know I should be a lot more preventative,” says Swalehe, a Vancouver-based retail sales manager. “My smoking needs to stop, and I have some weight to lose.” Still, she has a few things working in her favour: “good genes,” a relatively stress-free lifestyle and a solid circle of friends. “I think I have a really positive outlook.”

TEST OF TIME
Michelle Villett asked asked five women to reveal their diet, skin-care and exercise habits—and then got the world’s top anti-aging docs to weigh in.

GILLIAN DICESARE, 25
“I’m not scared of aging,” says DiCesare, a womenswear coordinator at Holt Renfrew in Toronto. “I noticed some wrinkles under my eyes when I turned 25, but it’s nothing I’m worried about yet.” She’s working on managing her more pressing concerns: work-related stress and a suspected gluten sensitivity, along with “trying to stay as positive as I can.” “It can be hard sometimes, because in your 20s, you’re still discovering what you want to do, who you want to be and where you want to go.”