10 Healthfully Refreshing Summer Food Ideas

The hot summer season calls for a change in your diet. No one wants to be bloated or have a heavy stomach in the summer when there is always an adventure waiting around the corner to be had. So beat the heat with these yummy, fresh food choices!

1. Frozen Grapes

Frozen grapes are a delicious, refreshing spin on the already yummy fruit snack. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients for a guilt-free munch. So the next time you get a craving for something sweet and icy, reach past the ice cream to the container of frozen grapes!

2. Assorted Melon Ball Platter

Make your snack tasty and aesthetically pleasing by using a melon baller to make an assorted platter of watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melon. These are excellent summer foods as they are crisp, light, nutrient-rich and contain a high percentage of water. This is a great snack to share with friends on a hot summer day!

3. Grilled Chicken Dishes

Chicken is an excellent summer meat choice as it is leaner than red meat but still chockfull of protein, iron and other health goodies. Try making glazed grilled chicken and veggie shish kabobs or a grilled chicken Caesar salad! Mmmm!

4. Topped Cucumber Delights

Cucumber is another wonderful, light summer food that made up largely of water. A couple great cucumber snack ideas are cucumber slices topped with tuna (you can make tuna salad the same as you would for a tuna sandwich); or try tuna and hummus if you’re not a fish fan (it is a scrumptious and highly healthy combo)!

5. Real fruit pops

One of our favorite summer snacks here at DocChat is blended or whole frozen fruit such as berries, kiwi and citrus poured into popsicle molds for an icy treat! Full of healthful perks, real fruit pops will help keep you cool, hydrated and energized in the hot summer sun.

6. Pesto Spaghetti Squash

Replace your heavy, winter-style pasta with a light and flavorful spaghetti squash. You can make an easy ground turkey and tomato-based sauce to go on top, or go with a lighter green pea pesto dressing! What a simple, delightful and healthy summer supper.

7. Broccoli soup

Try this fresh, creamy broccoli soup for a light-on-the-tummy summer lunch. You’ll have enough left over for a few days of summer lunches.

8. Romaine lettuce wraps

Eschew the heavy carbs and use a piece of romaine lettuce to roll up a delicious chicken, tuna or veggie “wrap” instead. You can add all the toppings you would normally add to a sandwich without the added calories or weight of bread on your stomach. With a nice, light lunch like this you’ll be ready for another dip in the pool in no time!

9. Homemade (Naturally Sweetened) Iced Tea

If you’re looking for a sweet thirst-quencher try brewing some tea of your choosing, cooling it down and mixing it with a few cups of water as well as some freshly squeezed lemon and a few drops or packets of stevia (a healthy natural sugar alternative) for the best iced tea you’ve ever tasted. This is a much better alternative to store-bought iced teas, as they contain either too much sugar or unhealthy artificial sweeteners.

10. Sweet Thai Chili Salmon

Grill up some fresh (non-farmed) salmon slathered with this delicious, healthy homemade Thai chili sauce for one of the tastiest suppers you can imagine. You can also buy Thai chili sauces, but why not make your own?

So there are a few of the endless healthy options for refreshing summer meals and snacks – be sure to take in enough fruits and veggies, fish, low-fat dairy and lean meats to feel your best! Thanks for visiting DocChat.