🍊 3 [Healthy] Summer Recipes To Bring To Your Next BBQ
plus, an unconventional hack for mindful eating…
Summertime can be an interesting time for “health” and nutrition 😅
One one hand, beautiful veggies, Vitamin D, and fresh air abound! It’s a great time to be active, have seasonal produce, and be outside.
On the other hand, it’s also a season of BBQs, weddings, boat days, and socializing— which can naturally create a disconnect from our “typical” eating and drinking habits.
And—let’s get this straight— I don’t think it’s “bad” to enjoy summertime and all of its festivities. Not at all!
Life is MEANT to be lived! Food is MEANT to be enjoyed! Gathering in community to eat truly is one of the most beautiful parts of life...
🌼 But moreso, let this be a reminder that you can enjoy summertime events *while also* keeping your health in mind.
It doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing, my friend.
So, please enjoy yourself, your meals, your icy beverages, and your favorite nostalgic summer snacks. Summertime, and the living is easy!
But can you do your best to eat, graze, and drink at these events in a mindful, intentional way?
I know it’s not always easy, but it is possible to enjoy a summertime festivity while keeping your health, happiness, and energy a priority.
One way I love to achieve this is through mindful eating affirmations.
Cheesy? Maybe. But impactful? Yes.
I have seen in my own life (and with a lot of my health coaching clients), that intentionally pausing before a meal or event, taking a deeeep breath, and repeating 1-2 of these phrases can invite in a sense of empowerment and peace around the food in front of you. Here are a few of my favorites:
I am in tune with my body’s hunger cues
I will find joy + gratitude in this meal!
I can fill my plate mindfully + with purpose
I will leave this meal feeling proud of how I ate
I can eat in portions that feel good for my body!
I am allowed to enjoy + savor this meal…
I will eat each bite mindfully and intentionally.
I respect my body’s needs and will nourish it accordingly.
Mmmmm, doesn’t even just reading those make you feel a bit more centered? It’s amazing how taking a breath and setting an intention for your food can make such a shift in your energy around a meal. ✨
🥬 3 Summer-Approved Recipes
Another way to navigate BBQ season with your health in mind is to bring a dish that YOU feel good eating! Something that you know you trust the ingredients, that will feel good for your body, and that will, of course, taste delicious.
Remember, just because it’s healthy doesn’t mean it has to be boring. 😉
I want to show you that you CAN enjoy these summertime events with your health in mind. So today, I am going to share 3 uplifting, summery recipes to get you started. Let’s do this!
🍗 THIS LIGHT & FLAVORFUL QUINOA BOWL: A filling and hearty (yet somehow light and refreshing??) quinoa bowl. Most grain bowls feel too heavy for summer, but this one is fresh, airy, and packed with delicious seasonal flavors. (Note: this makes an amazing meal-prepped lunch!)
🧋A CREAMY TROPICAL SMOOTHIE: Okay, this one isn’t technically a BBQ-approved recipe, but I have found that many of my health coaching clients would unintentionally skip breakfast in the summer (decreased appetite with warm weather, busy schedule, trying to “save” their calories for festivities, etc.). But, guys. It’s SO important to fuel and nourish yourself— no matter the season or what the day’s events include! So, consider this your pre-BBQ breakfast ;) In recipe #2, I walk you through a tropical, anti-inflammatory smoothie I’ve been having truly on repeat (I love it, my husband loves it, annnd my toddler loves it!). It is ridiculously creamy, packed with antioxidants, and will set you up for a nourished, fueled day.
🍧 HOMEMADE POPSICLES: Bring on the popsicles! From kiddos to adults, a cold treat is a summer must— and here I will share a recipe that is not loaded with artificial ingredients, fake colorings, and copious amounts of sugar. (Pssst: this concoction lowkey taste like a mojito or frozen marg!)
What they all have in common? These recipes couldn’t possibly be simpler or more perfect for summer. Below, I’ll walk you through each of them. Let’s dig in!