By Nicola Cucuiet and Sylvia Klinger
Summer is the perfect time to lighten your meals. Because of the high temperatures, calorie rich foods are harder to digest and can cause symptoms like bloating, fatigue and lack of energy. This is why during summer it is best to try to incorporate as much from nature’s bounty as possible.
To help you get started, here are some delicious summery recipes:
Romanian style eggplant salad
If you are not sure how you feel about eggplants, this salad will completely change your mind! Eggplants are filled with nutrients and vitamins not too mentioned important phytonutrients. They are also rich in anti-oxidants that are important in dealing with the negative effects of free radicals.
- Roast the eggplants until soft, and peel their skin off.
- Blend the peeled eggplant with a pinch of salt, one red onion diced, and 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
- Stir until the mixture turns almost white.
- Before serving, squeeze half a lemon over the eggplant mixture and enjoy with some ripe tomatoes and goat cheese!
Hummus
Chickpeas are rich in fiber so they’re a welcome aid for your digestive system. They are also rich in antioxidants. For this delicious dish you will need 16 oz of chickpeas. If you use fresh chickpeas you will need to soak them in water overnight, but the canned chickpeas will do just fine.
- Place 16 oz chickpeas, 2-3 Tbsp. of lemon juice, 1/4 cup tahini (sesame paste), 1 clove of garlic, minced, 1 tsp. salt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a blender or food processor and mix until smooth.
- Add some liquid either from the can or from the water left from the overnight soaking and mix at low speed for 2 minutes.
- After blending you can add some more olive oil, if you find the mixture to be too dry.
Greek style vegetable dip
This dish represents the easiest way to incorporate more veggies in your diet. Use vegetables with every color under the rainbow, in order to enjoy the different vitamins and minerals each one of them has to offer. Not only will this delicious snack fill your body with nutrients but it will also help your body re-hydrate after a long hot day.
- Mix some Greek style yogurt, a pinch of salt, some lemon juice and a teaspoon of olive oil.
- Serve this wonderful and refreshing dip with baby tomatoes, celery sticks, carrots, cauliflower, peas and whatever vegetable you prefer.
Cold soups
Eating warm soups can be very challenging in the summer. Cold soups are a fantastic twist, from the much-loved classic gazpacho to delicious fruit soups. Use whatever vegetables you wish, like tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, broccoli and many more.
- All you need is some vegetable broth, diced vegetables of your choice, and whatever spices you desire to enrich the taste of your soup. Blend all ingredients in your blender or food processor. Add some Greek yogurt to make your dish creamier.
- Chilled soups can also be made out of your favorite fruits. Choose ripe fruits that are in season and blend until smooth. This can easily become your favorite dish!
Fresh green salads
Turn salads into your go-to dish this season. Because of the abundance of fruits and vegetables in farmers markets, you can try all kinds of different combinations. Be adventurous and try foods you’ve never tried, or ones you did not like too much. Pair these salads with lean meats like chicken, turkey and especially fresh fish and seafood. Fish and seafood are good sources of vitamins and minerals, as well as protein. Fish like salmon is high in omega 3 fatty acids that can prevent age-related macular degeneration and has a number of anti-inflammatory proprieties.
Live life and love it. Eat well.
