It's that time of year.. Summer! My favourite season. Cottages, Biking, Swimming, Fresh and Local Produce, Camping, Social Events with family and friends, and Picnics at the beach!
I'm planning a couple of camping weekends this summer as well as some family gatherings and am already thinking about some yummy food to bring. Of course there's always room for your traditional family favourites and treats but I've put together some ideas to stay healthy and energized for all of your summer events.
Dried Fruit: whether you dehydrated fruit yourself or buy it, it's a great snack and addition to your granola, trail mix, cereal, or adding to a snack for a picnic or camping. May as well take advantage of all of the fresh, seasonal fruit that we have in abundance right now!
I'm planning a couple of camping weekends this summer as well as some family gatherings and am already thinking about some yummy food to bring. Of course there's always room for your traditional family favourites and treats but I've put together some ideas to stay healthy and energized for all of your summer events.
Dried Fruit: whether you dehydrated fruit yourself or buy it, it's a great snack and addition to your granola, trail mix, cereal, or adding to a snack for a picnic or camping. May as well take advantage of all of the fresh, seasonal fruit that we have in abundance right now!
Trail Mix, Granola, Granola Bars: these are excellent travellers and are super healthy and versatile since you can add whatever you like and make them super quick yourself. With a little bit of coconut oil, some maple syrup, dates, or raw honey, and some of your favourite dried fruit, nuts and seeds it will be nutrient dense and satisfying for a quick snack or meal.
Quinoa: since Quinoa is a complete protein, takes just minutes to cook, and can be eaten in so many ways its one of my favourites. You can use it in quinoa salads, as a porridge with a little cinnamon, milk, and fruit, instead of rice for stir-fries and as a pilaf to accompany your main dish.
Quinoa: since Quinoa is a complete protein, takes just minutes to cook, and can be eaten in so many ways its one of my favourites. You can use it in quinoa salads, as a porridge with a little cinnamon, milk, and fruit, instead of rice for stir-fries and as a pilaf to accompany your main dish.
Fresh Fruit: summer is the perfect time of year to take advantage of all of the fresh and local seasonal fruit. From fresh berries, rhubarb, tomatoes, etc fruit is so delicious tossed into salads, parfaits, homemade desserts, jams, added to water to some extra flavour, and of course all by itself!!
Spa Water: with a fancy name like that who wouldn't want to try it?! Hydration is so important when it's so hot out and sometimes we need to make water a little more exciting.. try adding some fresh fruit, cucumbers, ginger, citrus fruit slices, or caffeine free herbal tea bags to hydrate while not worrying about the extra calories! Packaged Juice and Sodas add a lot un-wanted calories throughout a day! This is super easy, inexpensive, and looks so elegant in a nice punch bowl or pitcher.. Or add it to your favourite water bottle just before you head out!
Bean and Legume Salads: with plenty of fibre and protein, beans and legumes make easy, delicious, cold salads and if you cook them yourself they are in-expensive and go a long way! Fresh lentil and bean salads are delicious with olive oil and vinegar, fresh lemon juice, fresh herbs of choice, a little chives or onion, minced garlic, and some chopped carrots, peppers, celery, or tomatoes. Yum!
Veggie Kebabs/ Skewers: pile up all of your seasonal veggies on skewers for yummy and beautiful vegetable platters! With a little olive oil, balsamic, or lemon juice and fresh herbs they taste so fresh and are super healthy! Perfect for any function!
Pestos and Dips: pestos can be made with kale, leeks, spinach, parsley, cilantro, garlic, you name it! There are so many varieties of pestos why stick with the same one? Pick your favourite fresh herb, some olive oil or flax oil, some garlic or garlic scapes, and maybe some nuts or seeds and you have a very yummy pesto! Healthy dips can be made with beans, chickpeas, lentils, edamame soy beans, peas, avocado, and your favourite veggies. Dips and Pestos are great as a sandwich spread, noodle topping, alongside veggies, and with your favourite chips or crackers.
Hopefully this gives some ideas for you this summer! Here's an awesome Strawberry Rhubarb Jam recipe I made with Fresh Picked Wild Strawberries and Rhubarb from my sister's backyard, some local honey, and Chia Seeds to thicken! I handpicked the wild strawberries.. which made it a bit of a lengthy process but with regular strawberries it would take no time to make. I picked only about a pint but boy did it take a long time to pick and take the leaves off... Sooo worth it though! ;)
Click on the link below for the Recipe:
Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Check out My Fresh, Fit, and Fab For Summer Cooking Class Happening July 23rd!
Your Turn! What is your favourite Dish to bring out to Summer Gatherings? I would LOVE to hear from You!!
Spa Water: with a fancy name like that who wouldn't want to try it?! Hydration is so important when it's so hot out and sometimes we need to make water a little more exciting.. try adding some fresh fruit, cucumbers, ginger, citrus fruit slices, or caffeine free herbal tea bags to hydrate while not worrying about the extra calories! Packaged Juice and Sodas add a lot un-wanted calories throughout a day! This is super easy, inexpensive, and looks so elegant in a nice punch bowl or pitcher.. Or add it to your favourite water bottle just before you head out!
Bean and Legume Salads: with plenty of fibre and protein, beans and legumes make easy, delicious, cold salads and if you cook them yourself they are in-expensive and go a long way! Fresh lentil and bean salads are delicious with olive oil and vinegar, fresh lemon juice, fresh herbs of choice, a little chives or onion, minced garlic, and some chopped carrots, peppers, celery, or tomatoes. Yum!
Veggie Kebabs/ Skewers: pile up all of your seasonal veggies on skewers for yummy and beautiful vegetable platters! With a little olive oil, balsamic, or lemon juice and fresh herbs they taste so fresh and are super healthy! Perfect for any function!
Pestos and Dips: pestos can be made with kale, leeks, spinach, parsley, cilantro, garlic, you name it! There are so many varieties of pestos why stick with the same one? Pick your favourite fresh herb, some olive oil or flax oil, some garlic or garlic scapes, and maybe some nuts or seeds and you have a very yummy pesto! Healthy dips can be made with beans, chickpeas, lentils, edamame soy beans, peas, avocado, and your favourite veggies. Dips and Pestos are great as a sandwich spread, noodle topping, alongside veggies, and with your favourite chips or crackers.
Hopefully this gives some ideas for you this summer! Here's an awesome Strawberry Rhubarb Jam recipe I made with Fresh Picked Wild Strawberries and Rhubarb from my sister's backyard, some local honey, and Chia Seeds to thicken! I handpicked the wild strawberries.. which made it a bit of a lengthy process but with regular strawberries it would take no time to make. I picked only about a pint but boy did it take a long time to pick and take the leaves off... Sooo worth it though! ;)
Click on the link below for the Recipe:
Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Check out My Fresh, Fit, and Fab For Summer Cooking Class Happening July 23rd!
Your Turn! What is your favourite Dish to bring out to Summer Gatherings? I would LOVE to hear from You!!
RSS Feed
