With triple digit temperatures and long days full of sunshine, nobody really wants to be spending a lot of time in the kitchen. That’s okay! Summer is a great time to experiment with fresh low-prep meal ideas.
Make salads the main event.
Chop, toss, and serve up some of these mixes:
- Watermelon, feta, and cucumber
- Avocado, chicken, red onion, and chickpeas
- Corn, tomatoes, radish, chives, and goat cheese
- Tomatoes, red onion, feta, and herbs
- Lettuce, corn, blueberries, peach, chickpeas, red pepper, and tomatoes
Get grillin’.
Take the meal prep outside as the sun sets. Experiment with some zesty marinades and grill your favorite meal features, from fish to vegetables (potatoes and eggplant are solid choices) to fruit. Apple, pineapple, or peaches are great on their own or as part of a salad!
Take advantage of seasonal goodies.
Summer is full of produce that’s at its peak. Check out a local farmer’s market. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you could plant your own garden! You could even make it a neighborhood project and exchange bounties from your harvest. Some of the best choices for summer gardening in Las Vegas are:
- Vegetables like cucumbers, peppers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, okra, eggplant, squash, and sweet corn
- Fruits like watermelon and muskmelon
You can also start an indoor herb garden on a windowsill and grow delicious meal additions like mint, thyme, chives, rosemary, cilantro, and basil. A little of each goes a long way!
Think through your drinks.
Being hot and sweaty makes us reach for a beverage – but consider what you’re choosing! Soda, juices, and anything alcoholic tend to be sneaky sources of excessive sugar and calories. They’re fun in moderation. However, on a daily basis, opt for water, whether it’s straight from the tap or a sparkling seltzer.
Go beyond liquids to hydrate!
Especially here in hot southern Nevada, the body loses lots of water through sweating. Keep your hydration up with water-rich foods like cantaloupe, celery, zucchini, strawberries, watermelon, cucumbers, peaches, tomatoes, and lettuce.
Taking care of your health doesn’t stop just because summer has arrived. If you have health concerns or questions about making the best nutrition choices, make an appointment with one of Roseman Medical Group’s healthcare providers.
