The Best Summer Food That Will Help Keep You Cool

Surviving in the summer can be a challenge. As much as we all love that summer glow, the heat can be particularly dangerous if you’re not well prepared. Foods that have high water content are ideal foods to consume in the summer time, as these will keep hydration levels high and you will have less chance of feeling parched. Avoid the dangers of the heat by keeping yourself cool with this selection of summer food along with some serving suggestions. Not only are they healthy choices, but consume these regularly and you’ll be cool as a cucumber!

Cucumber

Cucumber is a refreshing vegetable that has detoxifying qualities and allows the skin to breath. There are so many ways to incorporate cucumber into your eating and drinking regimen.

Serving suggestions: slice them up for salads, add them to your water bottle to keep your water cool or stick them in a sandwich.

Bananas

Bananas are high in potassium and this regulates bodily fluids. They also regulate acidity levels in the body meaning that you’ll have less chance of feeling sick in the heat.

Serving suggestions: use them to make milkshakes, add them to your cereal or bake them into a special bread or dessert! Try a banana bread recipe straight from the Caribbean.

Mango

Moving on to some of the more exotic summer food choices, the mango is at the top of the list! As well as reducing acidity levels in the body, it is an easily digestible summer food. This is especially helpful since digestion efficiency slows during the summer period.

Serving suggestions: make a mango smoothie or chop it up and add it to your salads. To cool your tongue when consuming spicy foods, conjure up the popular drink of the Indian subcontinent, mango lassi. This drink combines mango (pulp) and yoghurt and goes well with a good hot curry!

Yoghurt

When it comes to yoghurt you can’t go wrong. Yoghurt is made for the summer and there is an abundance of flavours out there to satisfy anyone’s food cravings. As a summer food that can easily fill your belly, it is stocked with protein and helps your digestive system run smoothly.

Serving suggestions: mix it with crushed fruits and oats; make smoothies; use as a dip; or grab yourself a fro-yo on the go as an alternative to ice cream to beat the sweltering heat!

Melons

Whether its plain melons or watermelons, because they are mostly made up of the ever so fantastic H2O, feeling parched will not be an option. Watermelons also contain a protein that protects the skin from sun burn, so the benefits are both inward and outward with this summer food.

Serving suggestions: Chop ’em up and scoff ’em down!

Mint

There are many benefits to incorporating this cool herb into your diet more in the summer season. Mint leaves are a refreshing addition to any foods or drinks on the menu. Not only does mint acts as a good relaxant but it also boosts your immune system (no summer diseases please!). Among other benefits mint helps to relieve stress, which occurs more commonly under the summer sun.

Serving suggestions: add it to water or any other cold drink. You could also make cold mint soup.

Seafood

Rich in protein and Omega 3, seafood is always a favoured summer food choice and makes for a light meal in the warm weather. As the heat can make you feel more lethargic than usual, eating more light foods will serve you well.

Serving suggestions: dress up some salmon for dinner with some tomatoes, salad and brown rice (other great summer foods); grab some sushi; add to some pasta; or make some barbecued or curried fish.