Wherever you’re reading this from, you might just agree with
me that this weekend was hot. Extremely hot. The kind of hot that gets you
nervous about the whole global warming thing.
In this kind of weather, hot meals sound pretty unappealing,
as does cooking because it will just make your small Brooklyn apartment feel
even more like an oven. So in these scorching months, I think salads are the
way to go! Not only are they healthy and delicious, depending on what you put
on them, they might require no cooking at all. You’ll also save a ton of money
if you purchase the goodies to top them off with in bulk at the store or local
farmers market. The salad restaurants can cost an arm and a leg if you like about
10 toppings like I do!
Here’s a list I’ve come up with for some excellent, no need
to cook, toppings for your super healthy summer salad:
Kale
Corn
Black beans
Jicama
Craisins
Fresh berries
Almonds (or any nut that you enjoy)
Cheese
Croutons (my personal favorite)
Edamame
Sesame sticks
Canned tuna
Tomatoes
Salsa/mango salsa
Mandarin Oranges
Avocado/Guacamole
Mix and match these for countless flavor combinations, and
you’ll never eat a boring salad again!
Now all you need is the dressing, although with toppings
this good, you could probably skip it!
Here’s a couple recipes for simple, healthy dressings to
make at home:
Basil Vinaigrette Dressing
Ingredients
1
cup olive oil
1/3
cup apple cider vinegar
1/4
cup honey
3
tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2
cloves garlic, minced
Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing
Ingredients
1
cup olive oil
1/4
cup soy sauce
1
lemon, juiced
3
cloves garlic, minced
3
tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
1
teaspoon prepared Dijon-style mustard
2
teaspoons honey
ground
black pepper to taste
Now all you need to follow up your refreshing and healthy
salad is a fun activity that will keep you cool and doesn’t require much
electricity.
Here are a few of my favorites, or some ideas that I’ll be
trying out this season:
Board games
Nighttime or early morning walks
Water balloons
Gardening
Arts and Crafts
Frisbee
Swimming
Yoga – inside or out
Letter writing
…and of course, going out for ice cream!
Summer is my favorite season because it’s my personal
reminder to slow down (because you really can’t move too fast in the heat) and
enjoy the simple things. Nothing sounds better to me in the summer than fresh fruit,
or a cool salad. Also, I love going outside, when it’s not too hot, and
enjoying nature. While I know not everyone is with me on this, I’m not a fan of
just staying in the air-conditioning, so it’s a fun challenge to discover new
and fun ways to beat but also enjoy the heat. As long as you put the sunscreen
on and stay hydrated, I say enjoy the summer!
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