What to eat in this heat

Summer is in full swing and with the heat our bodies also start needing different nutrients and more hydration. In the summer our bodies sweat a lot more in order to cool us down - sweat actually helps us survive in this heat but sweating more also means that we are losing more water - and since our bodies are made of 60% water we really need to make sure we are giving our body enough hydration back.

Summer also means that most of us are drinking a bit more alcohol as the evening as nice, the sun is shining and we have so many social obligations which also means that our skin is probably not as clear as it should be. Eating fatty/ greasy foods in the summer will affect your body more than in winter as will eating too much sugar and too many carbs. Besides the fact that eating greasy food will leave you feeling terribly bloated and will make you sweat even more!

A great summer diet consist mainly of the fresh ingredients that are in season at the moment so foods like: apricots, aubergines, broccoli, cherries, cucumber, melon, peppers, strawberries, spinach etc. and some fish, tofu or “light meats” such as chicken.

Below you will find some of our favorite summer ingredients and some ideas of what you can make with them in order to keep your dishes healthy, colourful and hydrating.

Tomatoes

We love tomatoes and really struggle in the winter when tomatoes are no longer in season. This is also why we try to eat as many tomatoes as possible in the summer time. Tomatoes are filled with antioxidants and Vitamin C and are made of 94% water! Some of our favorite tomato dishes in the summer are: Greek Salad, Tomato Bruschette and this tomato, chicken and basil salad - so fresh but also so nutritious.

Apples

Many people think of apples as a breakfast food or an afternoon snack - we love to add apples in salads as they really add a great texture and flavour to many dishes. Apples are 85% water which means that again they are great to keep us hydrated in these warm days, they also contain a lot of fibres and Vitamin C. Our favorite apple salad is: apples, spinach, nuts, pomegranate and honey mustard dressing! Yum

Avocados

Avocados are one of the most loved foods now a days so it’s not a surprise that they are also a great ingredient for our summer diet. Avocados are quite fat which means they fill us up quickly but don’t make us bloat (or at least not most of us). We did a little twist of the original avocado toast and added a layer of rucola and beetroot hummus.

Zucchini

Zucchini are filled with magnese, potassium and magnesium and are made of 93% water! They are obviously an incredibly amazing source of hydration for our bodies and can be cooked in a variety of ways. When we are lazy in the evenings and don’t feel like cooking too much we just through some zucchinis in the oven and eat them roasted. You can also grill them but you can also eat them raw!

Watermelon

Watermelon! Our all time favorite summer fruit. Watermelons are so good for us: they are filled with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, potassium, zinc and copper and are made of 91% water. Watermelon is another ingredient that we love eating on its own or in salads. You can make a simple feta and watermelon salad or recreate the below grilled shrimp, salad, blueberries, goat cheese and watermelon salad.

Radish

Not everyone is a fan of radish which is a pity because they are an absolute super food not only for the summer. Radish can help: prevent cancer, improve your skin, keep a healthy heart, detoxify your body and all of this at only 1 calorie per radish! Adding these little suckers to your salads could really make a difference - not only for your health but also for your taste buds. Some of our favorite radish dishes are: beetroot hummus bruschetta with radish, garlic roasted radishes, lentil salad with feta and radish and simply adding radish to almost any salad!