Finally, it feels like summer is on its way! It’s been pretty hot here in New York and my body can feel it. Our bodies know the different foods we need in different seasons — warm filling foods in colder times and light refreshing foods in warmer times. Right now fruit is about the most appetizing thing to me. Fruit is water dense, light, refreshing and delicious — the perfect summer food.
Photo courtesy of Google Images
So I have 3 delicious ways for you to beat the heat, two of which include fruit.
1. Watermelon-Strawberry Refresher
Ingredients:
- Frozen watermelon chunks
- Fresh strawberries
- Unsweetened almond milk or pure coconut water
What to do: simply blend all 3 ingredients together in your Nutribullet or favorite blender. I made this one with almond milk, but if you’re having it mainly as a beverage and are going to enjoy it outside, coconut water may be the more refreshing option. If you need it to be a little more filling, then opt for the almond milk.
2. Frozen Banana Slices
Ingredients:
- 1 sliced medium-large banana
What to do: simply slice and freeze! Let freeze for a few hours, serve in a cup and enjoy.
This is possibly the easiest and most delicious treat there is. And it’s hardly a “treat.” It’s just banana for crying out loud. But it tastes like banana ice cream. Remember Dippin’ Dots? Are those still around? Well, you no longer need them. These banana slices are like slices of banana flavored Dippin’ Dot ice cream. Except they are good for you and you know exactly what’s in them — good ol’ banana.
3. Iced Coffee — organic all around and no sugar!
A girl who loves iced coffee, such a shocker right? I know coffee is kind of a hot button issue… to drink it or not to drink it? Well, I decide to drink it. I typically have one or two a day, and I drink tons of water so it doesn’t bother me.
How do I take my coffee? I take it all around organic, meaning organic coffee and organic full-fat half & half, with a teensy tiny bit of stevia. That’s ideal and how I like to make it at home. I can’t always get it like that, but I don’t freak out about it. If I’m going to freak out, I’d rather not have it. Save me the stress. If it’s not gonna stress me out on a particular day, I’ll take it the best way I can at the present moment.
Ways to make your iced coffee healthy and guilt free:
- Opt for and brew organic fair-trade coffee
- Use a little bit of stevia to sweeten it, if you must (but be sure to check your stevia, I like Sweet Leaf)
- Make it creamy with: organic full-fat half & half, organic whole milk or unsweetened almond milk with no carrageenan (I like Silk. It’s also non-GMO). You could also choose another non-dairy milk, but I really recommend you get one without carrageenan. Read those labels!
Don’t know what carrageenan is and what to read more about it? Here is an article with everything you need to know about carrageenan by Kimberly Snyder. Again, it’s something people take a side on. I choose to avoid it. It’s not that difficult to avoid, and I feel better doing so. Read up on it. You are then free to make your own choice.
As the season goes on and we actually enter summer, I hope to bring you more meals that are ideal for the warm weather. Here’s to hoping that creative chef’s hat finds its way onto my head so I can deliver. In the meantime, embrace fresh fruit, fresh or cold-pressed organic juices, green smoothies, fresh or grilled veggies and these 3 cool treats. You should be refreshed and satisfied. Now get out and enjoy the weather, we’ve all earned it after that horrific winter. 🙂
Good food. Good tips. Good moves. Good for you.
xo Kim, Running on Good
Running on Good 