Ideal Foods for Hot Days

Eating Cool Food to Maintain Fluids and Vitamins

Jul 29, 2009 Catherine Owen

The heat in summer can take its toll on the appetite. Eating light, healthy, raw foods and maintaining one's intake of fluids is vital.

During hot weather, particularly if it's prolonged, the body often loses its appetite, feeling everything from lassitude and exhaustion to nausea and dizziness. Coupled to this is the diminished desire to cook meals, especially if their preparation involves a hot stove. While a lighter summer diet may be good for weight loss, one has to be careful not to eat too little, thereby depleting the body of vitamins and leading to an inability to function effectively. There are many healthy foods that can be comfortably consumed during heat waves.

Chilled Soups

Gazpacho or cucumber-dill soups are best. They line the stomach with their low and vitamin-rich calories, thereby filling one up without making one feel heavy. They're also easy to prepare.

Watermelon

This is the consummate summer food. Chilled and predominantly water, crunching into a watermelon is a great way to cool off. Don't consume too much if prone to heartburn. Other citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are also good for hot days. Ideally choose organic fruits that aren't genetically modified and are thus not full of chemicals. These fruits are also lower in sugar.

Salads

An obvious choice for sweltering days, salads can be thrown together quickly. There are many varieties of salads too, from a simple green one, to ones dressed up with fruit, chopped veggies, slices of chicken, prawns, nuts or seeds. Be careful not to increase the caloric content of the salad by adding heavy dressings. Anything cream based in particular is a bad idea in hot weather.

Grilled Veggies

Veggies cooked anyway, hot or cold, boost vitamin intake during summer while reducing caloric intake. It's simple to stir-fry or grill a wide range of vegetables from bell peppers, onions, carrots, broccoli, zucchini and other colourful greens. Then one can enjoy them any time of day.

Ice cream or Frozen Yoghurt

Choosing low-fat ice cream or, even better, frozen yoghurt not only cools one off in summer but can be healthy if fruit-based. These cold treats are best eaten from a bowl, not off a cone. Try cold mashed avocados too for a delicious, high in vitamin alternative that's sure to beat the heat!

Drinks

Of course, the most important thing to remember in the hot weather is to keep the intake of fluids high. Drinking water is vital. Without regular hydration, the body becomes weak, depleted and one may be at risk of death. At least eight glasses or more a day will maintain one's ability to function. Juices are also healthy but add more calories. Alcoholic beverages sap the body's hydration and lead to weight gain. In high temperatures, remember that humans are mostly composed of water. Adjust eating and drinking habits to reflect this need for fluids.

The copyright of the article Ideal Foods for Hot Days in Seasonal Cooking is owned by Catherine Owen. Permission to republish Ideal Foods for Hot Days in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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