George Foreman Cooking Blog

Healthier Eating for Hot Days

Making summer BBQ & party eats healthier

Summer is in high swing and across the country cities are experiencing record high temperatures. So what’s the perfect solution to get through the year’s hottest days? Change up your diet and add a little refreshment into your typical weekly meal plan! The below tips give you some great ideas on how to change what you’re eating to make the summer heat a little more bearable.

When it’s hot outside, eating heavy meals is just going to weigh you down. Particularly when it’s hot, you want something that’s going to give you energy and revitalize you to get through the rest of the day. The perfect solution is to sub in more refreshing meals or versions of dishes for an overall lighter summer menu.

Shrimp on the Foreman, anyone?

Steak and other red meat dishes are typically really filling – a New York Strip Steak is not a light meal that makes you want to go back out into 100ºF heat and do what you need to get done with your day. Even hot chicken dishes don’t sound very refreshing when you’re trying to beat the heat.

Summer is the perfect time to add a few shrimp or fish dishes into your meal plan. The taste is lighter, they’re not as heavy and the health benefits are numerous. Shrimp and fish are both a great source of vitamins, nutrients and Omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce your risk for heart disease, prevent arthritis and promote healthy brain function. Research also shows that adding just one fish dish to your diet per week may also reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s. This way, you’re getting healthier and feeling better in the hottest part of the year at the same time.

Cold Meat Salads & Sandwiches

If you don’t want to give up your red meat and poultry for a meal, try switching it up a little. Instead of doing a hot dish, use the meat or poultry cold to make a refreshing summer sandwich or salad. Just take your favorite meat or poultry portion cooked on your George Foreman® Grill to help knock out the heavy fat, allow it to cool and then slice for a sandwich or salad.

Since these dishes aren’t hot and also aren’t typically heavy on the sauces used, they end up being lighter and more refreshing for summer eating. Plus, with all your veggies (and fruits if you’re feeling adventurous) mixed in, you have a 1-dish plate that’s quick, easy and the perfect option for a hot summer day. You can use a recipe or simply get creative and make your own.

Hot Sandwiches, Wraps & Panini

For a hot meal that still eats like a light summer dish, try making a wrap, hot sandwich or even a panini on your George Foreman® Grill. All of these are simple meal solutions that take little time to make for your busy summer schedule, plus they give you the warmth and comfort of a hot meal without the weight of a heavier dish or whole cut of meat.

Hot sandwiches can be anything from a simple grilled cheese with tomato to the Croque Monsieur a la George Foreman® recipe featured in this month’s issue. Wraps are tortillas spread with your sandwich makings and rolled before being cooked on your grill. Panini are hot Italian sandwiches where the outside of the bread is lightly brushed with oil before they are grilled.

These hot summer options can be made on any George Foreman® Grill, though if you have a grill with an adjustable slope like the Power Grill™ featured in this month’s issue, it is recommended that you lay the grill flat for easier cooking. If you don’t have an adjustable slope, make sure not to overstuff and try to make all the portions even so that the top grill plate closes properly on the sandwiches.

Health Benefits of Fish. Washington State Department of Health. http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/fish/fishbenefits.htm

Tags: Healthier Eating for Hot Days