I admit, summer is a tough time to cook. Who wants to roast dinner and heat up the house or cook in front of a hot stove top. I completely understand! Here are some ideas in a pinch that don’t require cooking and cooling the body while eating with the seasons. I try not to use too much canned items but this is just once in a while.
- Rotisserie chicken salad. De-bone the chicken and add it to your favorite salad full of greens, your favorite veggies with options such as seasonal fruits, nuts, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, olives, artichoke hearts, etc.
- Rotisserie chicken taco. De-bone chicken and fill up your taco with tons of chopped tomatoes, avocado, sliced carrots, cabbage, onions, cucumber, cilantro, etc.
- Spring rolls. Wrap up some mangoes, cucumber, avocado, carrots, mint, basil, lettuce, vermicelli rice noodles, etc in rice paper and enjoy a light refreshing meal. Add chicken, tofu, or shrimp as your protein.
- Cool bean salad. Add a can of black beans with corn, avocado, tomatoes, onions, salsa, lettuce, mangoes, etc. and eat over a bed of greens or some brown rice or both.
- Tuna salad. Add some tuna with avocado, tomatoes, red onions, bell pepper, olive oil, lemon juice, optional white beans and enjoy over a bed of your favorite greens.
- Cold quinoa salad. Cook quinoa in a rice cooker that does the work for you. Add lots of diced tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, green onion, cilantro, mangoes, avocado, beans, dried cranberries, etc. and toss with olive oil, lime juice, salt/pepper.
- Smorgasbord. Make a platter of your favorite things like humus with veggies, hard-boiled eggs, refreshing vegetables, mixed fruit, nuts, some cheese. I personally prefer cheese with arugula or sliced cucumbers, but use some crackers if you’d like. Just always read your ingredients. Stuff all this into a thin pita wrap if you’d prefer. The hummus makes it nice an moist.
Enjoy your summer activities. Make your food more refreshing and seasonal. For me, I don’t mind a little sweat while cooking. Nothing a quick, cold shower can’t cure before a delicious meal.
If you need help understanding nutrition and all the mixed messages out there, give us a call. We will address your stress level, eating habits, exercise, cravings, emotional eating, and overall health and happiness. Start with a free health consultation at www.HappyFoodHealth.com or (619) 876-2655. See if this is the right match for you. I do things very differently to make health a natural lifestyle and this is not for everyone. Check out Yelp for other people’s opinion of Happy Food.
~ Samantha Hua, Nutriton & Holistic Health Coach, San Diego, CA
