For many of us, summer is the most enjoyable time of the year, and eating for the season can make it even more enjoyable than ever.
Seasonality and Ambient Temperature
Have you ever noticed that during the summer months you naturally eat a different range of things compared to what you consume during winter time?
Some of this is no doubt down to seasonality. All the lovely salad leaves and fruit that are in season right now – don’t they look great? And later in the year when they’re still available (although only as imports) somehow they’re not quite as much of a draw.
Of course, on top of seasonality there’s ambient temperature. While eating a chilled meal like a salad or cold cuts of meat is fun when it’s warm and sunny outside, somehow this becomes impossible during the winter, when we crave hot meals that are big on comfort. And all too often, also big on fat and calories.
Hot Weather, Cool Habits
A lot of our calorie intake is simply down to habit. If you snack on healthy stuff like seeds and nuts, then when you find yourself without them, it feels like you’re missing out. By the same token, if you’re used to snacking on rich confectionary then being without it can initially seem like a major annoyance. But persevere beyond the annoyance threshold and you can quite easily swap unhealthy snacking habits for healthy ones. It’s all a matter of breaking old habits and forming new ones. The one habit we can never break is that of our habitual reliance on habits!
As the sun streams through the window, think of all the positive things about summer. And then think about all the things you can capitalize on healthwise. This is a time of year when you can refresh yourself with pure grapefruit juice instead of sugary fizz. There’s an instant health win right there!
And while the weather’s hot you won’t be much in the mood for pies, right? A great time of year, then, to plan out some nutritious meals that aren’t encased in steaming pastry and swimming in saturated fats. Think instead about easy to assemble meals that taste fresh and delicious, while mixing good healthy ingredients together – like chicken salad with lentils and fresh lemon. Good protein from the chicken, soluble fibre in the lentils. Oh, and a fairly serious hit of vitamin C from the lemon. See, in summer one humble lunch or dinner can be a powerhouse of nutrition.
Inspiring Summer Dishes
Summer brings out the best in us. Colors seem brighter, the air smells sweeter, the evenings last longer. And those dank January days of steamed up windows, sleet and early fall of darkness seem so far away. With all this positivity around, why not seek some summer healthy eating inspiration? Have a scan through your cookery books and aim to make every meal delicious and healthy.
Wheel out the barbecue and get some lovely lean steaks on there, enjoy the fresh taste of cottage cheese with your baked potato, seek out some lovely fresh fish for an alfresco dinner on the patio. And all the while, do so knowing that you’re keeping an eye on the best nutrition as well as the best taste.
About the author: Ian writes for a number of health blogs on behalf of Health On Line, a health insurer based in the UK
Photo credit: Andrzej Gdula