With the summer months fast approaching, more and more people are getting on a health kick, and looking for healthy, seasonal meals to experiment with.
If that sounds like you, then fear not – we’ve got you covered.
Here are five nutrient-packed summer recipes that not only taste great, but are easy to prepare and will help you maximise your hard work spent in the gym.
1. Start the day with a green smoothie
A fruit and veg filled smoothie is without a doubt one of the healthiest ways to start the day. With antioxidant packed berries and nutrient dense greens coming into season, you’d be silly not to take advantage of them.
Simply add to your blender half a cup of oats, a banana, a teaspoon of flaxseeds, a handful each of spinach and berries, and a teaspoon of cocoa powder. Blend it all up with ice and your favourite plant-based milk, and you’re ready to go.
2. Quick and easy lunchtime avocado wrap
This is simultaneously one of the quickest and best-tasting summer lunch recipes you’ll ever come across. Four ingredients and no cooking required whatsoever.
All you need to do is slice up a decent sized avocado, place it in a wholemeal or gluten free wrap with a few handfuls of salad leaves, and top with hot sauce or pepper paste – then enjoy! If you want to up the calorie content, drizzle the salad with a little healthy olive oil.
3. Barbecued tofu and vegetable skewers
Summer eating is almost synonymous with mountains of meat on the BBQ. For a healthy plant-based twist, why not try tofu skewers?
After pressing the tofu to remove most of the liquid and dicing it into one-inch cubes, marinate it overnight in maple syrup, whole grain mustard, smoked paprika and tomato sauce to form a sweet barbecue glaze. Prepare enough on the weekend so you can get a few more meals out of it in the week.
Then it’s just a case of simply adding the tofu to skewers, along with peppers and courgettes, and cooking on the barbecue or under the grill until crispy. Serve with fresh sourdough bread and a good helping of salad.
4. Antioxidant packed iced tea
With the temperatures rising, it’s always nice to have a fresh cold beverage on hand throughout the day to keep you hydrated.
To make this antioxidant-packed elixir, simply add a few tea bags of hibiscus tea to a large jug with cold water. Slice a lemon and squeeze in the juice, then allow it to cold brew for an hour or so.
Store in the fridge for a healthy mocktail style drink you can sip on throughout the day.
5. Healthy snacks on hand
With the sun shining, most people tend to be a little more active in the summer months. The temptation can be to reach for sugary snacks as an afternoon pick me up.
Beat the cravings by ensuring you always have healthy, wholefood snacks on hand.
Fresh fruits are great, as are unsalted nuts and seeds. Combine the two by adding a dollop of almond butter onto an apple. It tastes great, and will get you much closer to that summer beach body than a packet of crisps!
What are your favourite go-to summer meals?