As the warm weather arrives its time to ditch the soup (as much as I love a big bowl of it!) and be nourished by refreshing favorites to keep you cool and your tastebuds dancing. As challenging as it can be to stick to your health goals in the winter when you’re stuck inside and your calendar is bombarded with holiday parties, it can be just as challenging in the summer when popsicles, ice cream, and cookouts are constantly calling your name.
Check out these four tips and my favorite recipes to make your summer fun and keep your body nourished.
- Fire up the Grill! – Toss any veggies on the grill or try kabobs with Green Goddess Dressing. Whenever we have the grill fired up we always add as many extra vegetables as we can since they make great leftovers on a salad or in a wrap. These Easy Mexican Stuffed Mushrooms were one of my favorite recipes from last summer. Again, we made extra and enjoyed them throughout the week.
- Make Life Easy & Choose a Dish to Prep Ahead – A favorite of many of my clients, this Creamy Coleslaw by Cathy Fisher is the perfect side dish for your summertime gatherings. It’s loaded with nutrients and flavor! Speedy Summer Power Salad, Refreshing Cucumber Salad with Creamy Mint Dressing, and California Quinoa Salad are great side dishes that can easily be made in advance.
- Lighten Up – Warm weather calls for light and refreshing sides like this Fresh Pineapple Salsa or Salsa Fresca (3 ways – Mango, Strawberry, or Cilantro!). When you show up to a gathering with one of these served with tortilla chips, baked pita chips, or fresh veggies you’re sure to get some attention.
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- Be Sweet Naturally – No need to ditch sweet treats in the summer. Cool down with some of my favorites that just happen to be healthy! Vegan Frozen Chai Latte, Banana Blender Ice Cream (it’s just fruit, so dive right in!!) or these Chocolate Avocado Banana Milkshakes were a that we regularly enjoyed while sitting on our front porch.
