Summer food: What to eat to feel good!

Warmer weather calls for lighter, fresher food than we tend to eat in the winter months. Ripe vegetables, sweet fruits, and delicious grilled meats are the perfect foods to enjoy in the outdoors and stay healthy, hydrated, and protected from the sun.




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Chilled soups

Love soup, but can’t imagine eating it in the summer heat? Classic Spanish gazpacho is a chilled soup made from fresh summer ingredients like ripe tomatoes and peppers. It’s easy to make, looks impressive, and pairs nicely with simple grilled garlic bread and some cheese for a relaxed lunch.




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Mangoes

Mangoes are a sweet summer treat, high in fibre and loaded with vitamins. But it can be frustrating waiting for them to ripen to perfection. The good news is that they can be used in this tangy, crunchy, sweet, and spicy Thai-flavoured salad while they’re still green. Just add shrimp or grilled chicken to make it a meal.




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Watermelon

Is watermelon the ultimate summer food? Not only is it super refreshing and tasty, but it helps keep you hydrated in hot weather. If you love to balance salty with sweet, this creative salad combines watermelon with feta cheese (the salt helps your body absorb the melon’s water) to satisfy all your summer cravings.




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Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Peaches

Peaches are one of summer’s juiciest fruits—best eaten over the sink when ripe! They’re wonderful in pies and cobblers or sliced into a savoury salad that also includes rich avocado, refreshing cucumber, and a blend of aromatic spices. It’s a cool and confident dish that will make you the star of the summer cookout.




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Tomatoes

Summer is the best time to enjoy ripe tomatoes, warm from your garden or fresh from the market. They’re amazing for heart health and help protect skin from the sun’s rays.
Pair them with fresh mozzarella (preferably the rich buffalo-milk variety), basil leaves, and olive oil for a classic caprese salad that’s as pretty as it is tasty.




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Cantaloupe

Fresh summer cantaloupe, sliced into wedges and wrapped in paper-thin slices of salty prosciutto, is a time-honoured combination that both hydrates and satisfies. On the hottest days of summer, this could be lunch all on its own, or it can be served to a crowd as an appetizer when the cooler evening arrives.




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Asparagus

Asparagus season arrives with the start of the warmer weather. Many people steam them, but gently grilling the slender stalks brings out their sweetness and prevents overcooking. Dunk them in a creamy dip flavoured with your choice of herbs, spices, or other ingredients to help increase your body’s ability to absorb the vitamin E packed into these green goodies.




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Grilled shrimp skewers

Everything tastes better when it’s grilled on a stick, and shrimp are no exception. They cook quickly and make a light meal for those days when it’s almost too hot to eat. Chimichurri sauce is a great accompaniment—full of fresh green herbs, it can be both a marinade and a dip for the cooked shrimp.




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Grilled flank steak

Barbecues are one of summer’s great pleasures, and no matter the cut, steak is delicious when grilled over flame. If you’re feeding a crowd, try a marinated and grilled flank steak: it’s a large cut that tends to cook more at the ends and less in the middle, so it’s easy to please everyone no matter their preference.




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Grilled chicken skewers

Chicken is fantastic on the grill, whether you choose wings, legs, breasts, or the whole bird. One of the easiest ways to grill chicken quickly is to cut boneless meat into chunks and thread it onto skewers. It takes well to a near-infinite variety of flavours, including the warm spices of Moroccan cuisine.




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Planked salmon

Fish can easily fall apart on the grill, but cooking it on a cedar plank will solve that problem. Salmon has a mild yet rich flavour and is loaded with healthy omega-3 fatty acids to support heart health. When it’s done, just put the whole plank on a platter, fish and all, and dig in.




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Grilled chicken paillards

Paillard is a fancy word for a boneless, skinless chicken breast that’s been pounded to an even thickness, so it grills quickly and stays juicy, ready to be sliced into a pasta dish or topped with grilled vegetables, bright salads, or herby sauces for an elegant summer meal.




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Turkey burgers

Hamburgers are a cookout classic. In hotter weather, why not try turkey rather than beef for a leaner, lighter patty that’s still packed with flavour? Top it any way you like (avocado is a luxurious option that’s full of good fats) and add baked sweet potato fries to round out the meal.




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Pork souvlaki

These Greek kebabs are simple to prepare and full of summery flavours like lemon, oregano, and mint. Pork tenderloin is a lean and tasty option, but they can also be made with chicken. Add some pita bread and a quick homemade (or store-bought) tzatziki spread—and don’t be afraid to eat with your fingers!




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Popsicles

Kids and grownups alike enjoy a sweet, icy homemade popsicle on a sweltering summer afternoon. You can use just about any puréed fruit to make ice pops, but watermelon and jalapeño is an unexpected and fun combination that’ll help you cool off by making you sweat a little.




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Iced coffee

Caffeine fiends need their fix, whether it’s the dead of winter or the height of summer. Icing your coffee down is a refreshing way to start the day in the warmer months. Take it one step further and turn it into a sweet and chilly popsicle that can be enjoyed day or night (maybe consider decaf for after dinner).




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Strawberries

Berries of all varieties dominate farmers’ markets all summer long—and for good reason: they’re sweet, juicy, delicious snacks bursting with antioxidants to protect your skin and keep you healthy. Strawberries are perfect eaten out of hand, but sliced and sandwiched into a sweet, crumbly shortcake topped with whipped cream, they’re a midsummer night’s dream.




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Lemon cake

Summer birthdays and celebrations still need cake, but something lighter than chocolate or carrot seems appropriate for the hotter weather. Lemon offers a bright hit of acidity to counteract the sweetness of the cake and keep everything breezy. Don’t forget the whipped cream and fresh berries in a rainbow of seasonal colours!




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