During the hot summer months, meal planning can be a challenge. No one wants to eat a hot, heavy meal. Soups, stews and casseroles are the furthest thing from the mind, and sometimes it can be hard to work up an appetite at all. Preparing light, cool and refreshing meals can be just the thing to keep the family happy and well fed until the temperatures drop again.
Summer Salads
A cool summer salad can be just the thing. They offer a variety of textures and flavors for an interesting taste experience, and they can easily be customized for the picky eaters in the family. When using low-fat meats, cheeses and salad dressings, they can be very healthy as well. Here are some tasty summer salad ideas that make great meals all on their own:
Chef Salad: a little something for everyone! Julienne favorite cold cuts and cheeses and place on top of a bed of iceberg or romaine. Add slices of cucumber and hard-boiled egg, tomato wedges and dressing.
Pansanella is a delicious and filling summer salad. Recipes vary, but a common one consists of croutons or stale bread (a very rustic Italian variety), fresh tomatoes from the garden or farmer’s market (heirloom varieties are both pretty and tasty), balsamic vinegar, basil, thyme, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Taco Salad: this is a great idea for kids who do not enjoy the concept of salad for dinner. Shredded lettuce, grated cheese, tomatoes, olives, sour cream and guacamole are popular ingredients. Mix with tortilla chips. If meat is desired, cook crumbled-up ground beef or turkey with taco seasoning and stir into the salad. This salad does not necessarily need dressing, but stirring some salsa into ranch dressing makes a yummy topping.
Stuffed Tomato Salad: this is a very simple, but visually appealing salad. Mix up a favorite tuna salad recipe. Cut the top off a tomato, using a jagged cut to make it pretty, and scoop out the insides. Stuff the tomato with the tuna salad and serve on a bed of lettuce.
Garden Salad with meat: prepare a garden salad with a variety of veggies and a favorite dressing, then top with grilled chicken, salmon or steak.
Other Summer Meal Ideas
For a break from salads, here are some other cool and filling meal ideas:
Deli Meal: serve a tray of deli cold cuts, cheeses and roles so family members can make sandwiches. Include pickles, olives and side dishes like raw veggies and macaroni, potato or pasta salad.
Barbeque: this is a summer tradition that almost goes without saying. However, some people only barbeque when they are having a party. Many different meats, including fish, can be cooked outside on the grill. This keeps the house cool and lends a delicious flavor to the meat.
Picnic Dinner: spread a checkered table cloth on the dining room table and invite the kids to a picnic. Serve cold fried chicken and everyone’s favorite picnic foods, like potato salad and slices of cool, refreshing watermelon.
Getting the whole family to eat when they have been working and playing in the hot sun can be a challenge, but these cool and tasty summer meal ideas are sure to be a hit. For some recipes for after dinner, read Cool Summer Dessert Ideas.
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