Summer is the season of entertaining, and often celebrating, too! We all know how hard it can be to focus on including a variety of well balanced, nutritious dishes and drinks and when entertaining, and how easy it is to over indulge on cheeses, store-bought dips and chips.
With that said, our Wellness Panel have put together these simple tips and tricks as your steps to achieving your healthiest entertaining summer yet!
Seek Seasonality: Make use of seasonal produce!
Summer is the season of fresh and flavourful fruits and vegetables. So, let’s take advantage of these and incorporate produce and ingredients such as cucumbers, tomatoes, berries, and stone fruits into your dishes for healthy, delicious meals.
Bulking up meals with fresh, seasonal produce is a game-changer, and an excellent way to incorporate new flavours, whilst maintaining a well-balanced diet, and being cost effective.
Some of our go-to fruits and vegetables to add to summer salads:
Fruits: Grapes, Nectarines, Strawberries, Pomegranate
Vegetables: Corn, Radishes, Avocado, Tomatoes, Fresh Snow Peas
Mix-up Methods: BBQ your proteins!
If you aren’t BBQ’ing your proteins in summer, you are missing some serious Kiwi summer sprit! Grilling is a healthy and tasty method to cook a variety of proteins such as chicken, fish, and vegetables. The high heat helps to lock in moisture and flavour, ensuring for a tasteful, satisfying meal.
When the evenings are warm and light, it’s the perfect opportunity to be cooking at the BBQ, and eating al fresco!
Healthy Herbs: Level up the flavour!
This is your friendly reminder to make use of the fresh herbs so readily available to us during the summertime.
Adding herbs to dishes is a great way to reduce added salts, sugars and any added seasonings, without losing the flavour. Adding finely chopped herbs to salad dressings is another simple yet effective way to add dimension to your dishes and a little extra wow factor.
Refreshing Reminder: Keep the drinks fresh!
During the summer heat, staying hydrated becomes even more important than usual. When entertaining, offering a variety of light, and refreshing drinks to help keep the summer thirsts quenched is key.
Water based spritzers infused with fresh fruits, homemade iced teas, and a DIY healthy alternative of the Kiwi classic ‘Just Juice Bubbles’ – soda water with a splash of juice, are all fabulous summer options (and ‘Fresh Start Approved’)!
Simplicity is Key: Stop the complicated!
Summer entertaining does not have to be time consuming and tedious! Instead of fussing over elaborate meals, try serving simple dishes which allow fresh, seasonal flavours to shine.
One of our nutritionists’ Molly’s go-to summer sides to serve when entertaining, is halloumi, watermelon and basil bites; simply grill halloumi, chop some watermelon, pick some basil leaves and stick together on a skewer. It’s as easy as that! These 3 ingredient bites will bring the fresh & the flavour, and in the simplest of ways! A true summer staple.
We hope these tips and tricks help with your summer entertaining! Don’t forget to select your Fresh Start menu for next week, for a world of delicious choice.
