Summer is a time to enjoy cold foods in hot weather. In winter, we lean toward everything warm and comforting. But in these summer months, we dress in shorts and reach for cooling foods! Unfortunately, those cool food are frequently packed with sugar or other things we might not be interested in adding to our diet. Just because we relax in the summer doesn’t mean we ignore our health!
Veggies we don’t have to heat become a hit in hot weather. Cucumber, which is 95 percent water, is one of our favorites! One cup has under 16 calories. Additionally, one hundred grams contains 147 mg of potassium and is rich in vitamins C, K and A, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. While we are used to having cucumbers in basic salads and creamy sauces, we wanted to look at some other options that might not be in your usual recipe rotation!
Barbeques and summer gatherings always have starring dishes, but sometimes they lack canapés! You can bring these fancy looking rolls to a party to make a real splash. If you aren’t a fan of salmon, feel free to use a fish of your liking! As this recipe is presented, each two-roll serving has 102 calories and only two grams of carbs! Get the recipe here.
Watermelon season is upon us! While watermelon may be high in carbs, it’s also rich in fiber and can be an excellent component of a healthy diet. In this dish, the sweetness of the watermelon with the salt of the feta and the sharpness of the lime juice. The cucumber adds extra crunch and makes the salad refreshing! One person in our office makes this at least three times a month in warm weather. Each serving has 168 calories and 10 grams of carbs. Get the recipe here.
Chips are a food that cannot be resisted. The crunch and the savory flavors keep them at the top of everyone’s list of favorite snacks. But the amount of carbs in potatoes may keep most chips off limits if you have blood sugar concerns. These cucumber chips, using olive oil, have the salty depth of flavor as well as a satisfying texture. The instructions call for a dehydrator, but people in the comments say they worked out well in the oven at a low temperature. A serving of the chips has 127 calories and 4.5 grams of carbs. Get the recipe here.
We love sesame noodles, but sometimes the noodles can be a bit much for us, especially when we are looking for light foods on hot days. This lighter version of one of our favorite dishes is so easy; it’s a snap. There are five ingredients, it’s a 20-minute recipe and 15 out of those 20 minutes are for the dish to rest! When you are looking for an easy dish on a hot night, this is it! Each serving has 107 calories and 4 grams of carbs. If you want to add protein and make it a full meal, we suggest tofu or chicken so as not to overwhelm the flavors. Get the recipe here.
Hopefully, with these recipes in your pocket, you can great through hot time while staying cool, refreshed and satiated!
