Summer temperatures have been rising all around the world and in some places, like Nevada, I don’t even want to turn the stove on for fear it will make the house too hot! Heatwaves are becoming, unfortunately, a common trend that affects entire regions year after year. They’re not going anywhere either.
Overall it’s too freakin’ hot to cook! How do you stay healthy when the record temperatures drain your energy and motivation in the kitchen? I have a few sometimes kitchen essentials that always are in my position during the summer months.
Here are some tips that can make all the difference in the world!
Blenders make everything taste fresh
Summer is for fresh fruits and vegetables. But when you’re getting bored of eating salads every other day, you can introduce some excitement with a blender. Yes, your blender is the indispensable summertime staple in the kitchen. It’s the perfect companion to prepare a yummy and healthy breakfast smoothie that keeps you feeling fresh and full all morning. Making your own smoothies also means that you get the best of the fruits without any of the additives you can find in store-bought products.
In summer, blenders are also a fantastic tool to make a chilled soup in minutes – gazpacho, we’re looking at you right now. You can blend all your veggies and chill the soup in the fridge until you’re ready to eat. A fresh burst of flavors!
A good mix of spices
Seriously, what’s the summer for if you don’t throw a BBQ party? The main advantage of a BBQ party is that most people grill their food outside, which means that you don’t have to worry about increasing the temperature inside. All you need is fresh quality ingredients and delicious seasonings such as this dry rub for ribs or any of Fresh Jax’s seasonings, and tada: You’ve got yourself a no-effort meal. Bonus tip: You can use the same seasonings recipe for grilled veggies and fish.
Two words: Soba noodles
If you are familiar with Japanese cuisine, you’ve probably heard of soba noodles before. Soba noodles are delicious buckwheat noodles that can be eaten chilled. They’re ideal for salads. You can also have them with a refreshing broth – you dunk the noodles in the broth as you eat. They’re not only cooling, but they also bring a welcome change when you’re getting sick of eating salads everyday.
Side note: I pack a salad pretty much every day for work so this is always a nice change of pace. And, hence the multiple salad references.
An ice cream maker keeps you cool
When the weather is so hot, all you want to do is eat ice creams. However, finding healthy ice creams can be a tough job! Most brands bring yummy concoctions that pack a huge amount of calories. Who wants a cooling snack that’s full of sugar when you’re working on your summer bod! You can make your own ice creams with an ice cream maker. It may sound like an extravagant purchase at first, but once you’ve tried, you won’t want to stop. Making your own desserts means you can prepare flavorful sorbets with fresh fruits and herbs. Have you ever made raspberry and ginger sorbet? It’s the snack for the summer!
Don’t let the hot summer get in the way of your health. Finding yummy and nutritious recipes that make you feel refreshed will instantly improve your summertime meals.
