Eating healthy meals in the summer allows us to embrace fresh, seasonal produce and lighter cooking techniques. Summer meals can be simple, and the possibilities are endless when fruits and vegetables are at their peak. We save money by shopping in season, making it easier to create meals which are nutritious and flavorful. Here are some great ways you can beat the summer heat while sharing healthy meals with your family:
- Turn on the grill. Grilling will not only keep the heat outside of your house, it can also be a great way to make quick and flavorful meals. Vegetables taste great when prepared on the grill and this technique brings out their natural sweetness. Zucchini, bell peppers, corn, eggplant, and onions all taste great when cooked on the grill. Experiment with your family’s favorite veggie combos with these fun foil packs.
- Use a slow cooker or crock pot. Slow cookers are a mostly hands-off way to make large batches of food. They do not heat up your kitchen the way the stove or oven does, so they help keep the temperature down. For something new, try this recipe for stewed eggplant with summer vegetables.
- Serve it cold. Sometimes the best way to cool down is to eat food that is not heated. This farm market gazpacho is a delicious way to use garden vegetables without any heat at all.
- Plan an indoor picnic. Children love packing picnic lunches and sharing food on a blanket. Allow them to help you make these California avocado summer wraps and this fruit salad with jicama. Ditch the dining room table and spread out a blanket on the living room floor or somewhere nice outside!
- Turn your salad into a veggie, fruit and cheese board. Instead of a traditional salad in a bowl, arrange vegetables on a cutting board with fruit and cheese. Consider adding chickpeas or nuts for a healthy protein. Each family member can make their own personal plate of edible food art, showing that fruits and vegetables can be fun!
- On hot days, consider keeping it light. If you're not very hungry due to the heat, try this breakfast parfait or a mango smoothie instead of a heavy meal.
Remember, summer meals do not need to be fancy. You can keep meals light, fresh, and flavorful by enjoying lots of in-season fruits and vegetables . Start with seasonal produce, add some lean proteins, and try one of the suggestions above or create your own cool summer meal creations.
