Healthy Summer Food
Tasty summer ideas, inspired by the season’s vegetable gardens and seashore living.
The long, dreary winter is over, and with it goes the fattening comfort food we’ve been indulging in. Check out these tasty summer ideas, inspired by the season's vegetable gardens and seashore living.
From the garden:
Homemade salsa -- start with diced tomatoes, onion, lime juice and sea salt as your base -- and then get creative! You can add bell pepper, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, even mangos and cucumbers. Serve with baked chips to keep it healthy.
Gazpacho -- this chilled soup can be made with the same ingredients as salsa, but add tomato juice, diced celery and a dash of hot sauce.
Cucumber salad -- marinate peeled and sliced cucumbers overnight in white vinegar sweetened with Splenda or the sugar substitute of your choice. This refreshing salad is also good with thinly sliced red onion.
Jalapeno hummus -- you can find jalapeno hummus in the store, but it's much better (and easy!) to make at home by combining plain, store-bought hummus with chopped jalapenos in the food processor. Serve with baked pita chips and vegetables.
From the sea:
Cajun tilapia -- Spray tilapia with non-stick cooking spray and sprinkle with Cajun seasoning. Sautee over low to medium heat until it flakes easily. Serve with lemon.
Flounder tacos -- a personal favorite! Grill or sauté flounder until it flakes easily, and serve in soft corn tortillas. Top with bagged cabbage mixture, lime juice, diced tomatoes and fresh cilantro.
Shrimp kebabs -- Thread shrimp, cherry tomatos, peppers and squash on a wooden or metal skewer. Brush with teriyaki or soy sauce and grill or broil.
