Guest Blog: Staying on Track this Summer
This week, our guest blog comes from Maxine, one of the editors at Recipe4Living, a recipe website with more than 14,000 user-submitted recipes, cooking tips and healthy living ideas. You can also find her writing on Chew on That blog where the Recipe4Living editors post about their favorite recipes, product reviews, and general food fun. Submit your recipe today and become part of the community at Recipe4Living.com.
Summer is a wonderful time for eating healthy. Farmer’s markets abound on every city block and even large supermarkets stock the juiciest of fruits, the squeakiest corn and the freshest of produce throughout these warm months. But summertime can also be a tempting time to slip off a strict diet for an innocent ice cream cone or a quick go through the drive-through on the way to a baseball game.
In anticipation of these dreaded enticements, the editors of Chew on That blog have been stocking up on healthy summer recipes to keep us in line. Hillary already tried out these Easy Fruit Popsicles that are so simple and versatile, you’ll want to try different fruit combos every time you make them!
But man (and woman) cannot live on popsicles alone – although sometimes we’d like to. This summer, freshen up your regular barbecue fare with Recipe4Living’s 5 Healthy Summer Food Groups.
1. Salads
Summer salads don’t have to be loaded with mayonnaise or sour cream! These tasty salads are packed with veggies and substitute flavorful herbs and spices for creamy dressings.
Too Lite Tuna Salad Summer Slaw Salad
Asparagus Picnic Salad
Fresh Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Summery Black Bean Salad
2. Grill
It wouldn’t be summer without some good barbecues, but they all don’t have to include quarter-pound hamburgers. You can get that same char-grilled flavor from other grilled recipes that use veggies, fish and even fruit!
Best Ever Corn on the Cob
Low-Fat Grilled Tuna
Grilled Pineapple
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
Actually Delicious Turkey Burgers
3. Refreshing Drinks and Smoothies
When you’ve had your required eight glasses of water for the day and you’re looking for a drink with a little more pep, try some thirst-quenching teas and smoothies. Use fresh, seasonal fruits to create smoothies with your favorite flavors.
Fruity Iced Tea
Breakfast Fruit Smoothie
Fat-Free Strawberry-Yogurt Smoothie
Fat Free Iced Apple Tea
Spinach Mango Smoothie
4. Fruits
Whether you add them to your morning cereal, bake them into muffins or just toss ‘em in a salad, make sure you get all the summer fruits that you can get! We love these recipes for their unconventional uses of some of the most common summer fruits.
No-Fat Strawberry Soup
Peach & Berry Salad
Blueberry Oat Muffins
Strawberry Salsa
Watermelon-Honeydew Kabobs with Dressing
5. Frozen
Cooling off from the summertime heat doesn’t have to mean a double scoop fudge sundae. You can make healthy choices and still get that summery brain freeze. Try these chilly treats that won’t add inches to your waistline.
Frozen Banana Split Salad
Frozen Cranberry Salad
Frozen Fruit Bars
Pomegranate Blueberry & Peach Sorbet
Frozen Peach Yogurt Pie
To read, rate and review all of the recipes listed above, click here!
