It’s summer. It’s hot. The last thing you feel like doing when you get home from work is cooking. I hear you.
Fortunately, keeping yourself nourished without turning on the stove is actually pretty simple. All you have to do is set aside your preconceived notions of what dinner should be and have a little fun in the kitchen.
If you’re training for a big event, like a marathon or triathlon, this probably isn’t where you should be looking for nutritional guidance. For the rest of you, it’s time to put on your adventure shoes and jump outside the dinner box.
1. Breakfast for Dinner
Breakfast before bed? Um, yes please. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever why you shouldn’t have a smoothie for dinner. It’s easy to digest, quick to make and super nutritious.
Okay fine, it’s nutritious provided you don’t load your blender up with pseudo-healthy ingredients like chocolate, coffee and added sugars. If you need inspiration, check out these healthy smoothie ingredients.
I know the Fit For Life crowd won’t agree, but indulging in a big, colorful fruit salad is a great way to end off a hot summer’s day. Why not take advantage of the season’s bounty when it’s available, right?
You can’t talk about breakfast ideas without including the meal of champions: oatmeal. Start your overnight oats soaking before you leave for work in the morning and you’ll arrive home to a bowl of goodness that might even help you sleep better.
All that’s left to do is dress it up a little. Banana, blueberries, cacao nibs, coconut flakes, the world is your topping oyster. Get creative, and then tuck in.
Finally, there is absolutely nothing wrong with eating peanut butter toast for dinner. The toaster isn’t on long enough to make the kitchen too hot and anyway, peanut butter toast.
Add some sliced banana (another sleep-enhancing food), and sprinkle a little cinnamon on top for flavor and, well, because it looks pretty.
2. Sumptuous and Hearty Salads for the Very Hungry
For some people, the heat makes their appetite wane. For others, like my friend Robyn’s two teenage sons, hungry is a permanent state of being. She’s got her work cut out keeping these two satiated.
How do you do create hearty and filling food when the stove is the last place you want to be? Easy peasy, actually. First, you cheat a little by stocking up on tinned beans and chickpeas or buying some vegan cold cuts.
Next, you bust out the couscous and bulgur wheat. Both of these grains can be prepared by putting them in a bowl with boiling water, covering and leaving to ‘cook’ for 15-20 minutes.
You can save time by preparing the grains before work, just don’t add the boiling water and leave for the office. You’ll arrive home to a solid and inedible brick. You need to wait the 15 or so minutes, and then fluff up the grains with a fork. This will ensure they don’t stick together.
In the evening you can hold a mix ‘n match party in your kitchen. Combine the grains and beans and then add your veggies and splash liberally (or not, up to you) with one of your pre-made salad dressings.
3. Eat Picnic Style
There’s no rule that says a meal has to be one big plate of food. The Greeks have meze platters. In Spain they serve tapas. Why not follow their examples and have lots of pint-sized dishes that everyone can dip into? It’s fun, it’s communal and it’s tasty.
The only caveat being that if you overload the table you run the risk of overeating. Definitely don’t let that happen, because you’ll be in bed in a couple of hours, and then your poor body has to digest all that food while lying down.
Make sure you choose healthy options like hummus, whole wheat pita, vegetables, olives, etc. Save the chick-un nuggets and deep fried vegan mozzarella sticks for your pool party on the weekend.
If you’re in the mood, instead of making this at home you can pick up a bunch of stuff at your local deli and head to the park. When you’re done gorging on artichoke dip and dolmades, there’s always the option of working off those calories with a game of frisbee. Or, just lie around and soak up the rays.
A Little No-Cook Inspiration to Get the Juices Flowing
Right, so hopefully I’ve inspired you to think outside the box when it comes to summer dinner ideas. Let’s end off with a little vegan no-cook juiciness to whet the appetite.
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