Light and Easy Meal Ideas for Summer
During the summertime, hot and heavy meals give way to grilled foods, salads and anything simple that doesn’t require a lot of time spent in a hot kitchen. Snacks and otherwise “not meal” meals become the norm in the sweltering summer.
Fellowship Square has a few quick ideas to help seniors lighten up their meals this season.
Toss it Up
Naturally, salads are a “cool” swap for a hot meal and can certainly serve as an entrée when topped with protein such as grilled chicken or flank steak or even tofu or edamame, for a vegetarian version. The great thing about salads is they are so versatile and can be customized to include diners favorites. Cold pasta salads are another cool way to enjoy eating light when it’s hot out. Think beyond a classic pasta salad typically served at pot luck with a Thai or Italian style pasta salad. For a Thai version, add red cabbage, julienned carrots, green onion and a peanut dressing to cooled pasta; an easy Italian variety can be made with fresh or sun dried tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil and a drizzle of Italian dressing or some olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Bowl It Over
“Bowls” have become popular in recent years across a wide variety of cuisines — from burrito bowls to poke bowls. Bowls are another fun way to pack in loads of veggies combined with an easy base such as rice, beans, quinoa or chick peas. For example, a Greek-inspired bowl can include cucumbers, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, sliced red onion tossed with a drizzle of olive oil and red wine vinegar and a dash of oregano salt and pepper — voila! A no-cook bowl that is light, healthy and don’t forget yummy!
Light it Up
Foods cooked on the grill are quintessentially summer — think grilled skewers, corn, asparagus, zucchini… the list is never ending! When cooked on the grill, vegetables take on totally new tastes and textures, so grilling is a great way to mix things up while lightening up this summer. After cooked, chop them up to toss over greens, tuck into tortillas for vegetarian tacos topped with avocado and salsa, or simply enjoy as is!
Sweet and Smooth
Smoothies are a great way to stay cool this summer. Summer berries like blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries are all ideal to combine with juice or milk, Greek yogurt, ice and some honey or agave to whip up a refreshing smoothie. Or summon a tropical vacation with each sip by using pineapple, banana, mango versus berries.
Keeping cool this summer can start in the kitchen… By not cooking! There are so many simple swaps to help lighten up the menu this summer. Fellowship Square encourages home cooks to have fun with new recipes and experimenting with cool ways to eat lighter this summer.
