Ahhh, it's summer: barbecues, cocktails at the pool, baseball games, and lots of fried chicken, ribs, potato salad, ice cream, hot dogs, and beer. The living may be easy, but if you don't pay attention, you'll pay for carefree eating by packing on the pounds. In the slides ahead, WebMD shows you a few shocking calorie traps and better choices at a backyard barbecue or beach boardwalk.

A bucket of fried chicken is an easy way to feed a crowd, but it can wreak havoc on your waistline and arteries. So forgo fried chicken and toss boneless, skinless chicken breasts on the grill, instead. Marinades and spice rubs add flavor to these quick-cooking cuts of poultry. The nutritional differences are striking. Skinless chicken breast (3.5 oz): 167 calories, 7 g fat Breaded, fried chicken breast: 360 calories, 21 g fat

A small half-cup portion of typical potato salad has 180 calories and 12 grams of fat; the same amount of coleslaw has about 150 calories and 8 grams of fat. To cut calories, try making your salads with light mayonnaise; or mix mayo with low-fat yogurt, light sour cream, or chicken stock. Or why not try a German-style potato salad, using more vinegar than oil? Then toss lots of veggies into any salad to increase the fiber and nutrients.