A Guide to Summer Cooking!

Summer is here! During this season, we tend to do a lot of things a bit differently, both to take advantage of the sunshine and to keep ourselves cooler than usual. Cooking is no different! Here are some cooking tips for summer that you’ll want to consider.

Get cooking outdoors

There are plenty of people out there who think of “summer” and immediately think of barbeque. Barbeques are a fantastic way of getting people together, and kids definitely love them. But, of course, relying on barbeques for the bulk of your summer meals isn’t that realistic! There’s also a lot of direct heat to deal with. So perhaps you should put more focus on cooking indoors and eat outdoors. Set up a comfy and clean eating area outdoors for everyone to enjoy – and consider getting some fans outside if there isn’t a breeze!

Look into cool and healthy treats

When we think of cool treats, we often think of fairly unhealthy things. Ice cream, for example, isn’t just loaded with fat – the stuff you get in the store is also often loaded with sugar and additives. This is why you should take matters into your own hands. You and the kids should make your own ice cream. Make it with real fruit for natural and healthy sweetness. This also helps cut costs in the long run!

Get rid of the heat

Our homes can feel like an oven during the summer, even with the air con on. But it’s not just the sun blazing down on our homes that causes this – it’s what we do in our homes! When we cook, we’re obvious creating quite a lot of heat that ends up getting dispersed around the home. It makes cooking pretty uncomfortable at times. This is why you should consider looking into things like no-bake recipes. From main courses to desserts, there are a bunch of things you and your kids can make together that don’t require turning the oven on – which you’ll quickly find is definitely a relief!

Incorporate fresh ingredients

Summer is the time when a lot of great fruit and vegetables are in season. While it’s possible to get the likes of blueberries, leafy greens, mangoes, and tomatoes (etc, etc!) throughout the year, summer is when they’ll be freshest and less likely to have been tampered with by chemicals. The fresher your ingredients, the tastier they’ll be, as well as healthier! It’s around this time that more independent food stalls selling fresh produce will start popping up, so keep an eye out for them!

Remember those summer nutrients

Summer can actually do quite a number on your body if you’re not careful! All the heat might end up drying out your skin. The increased exercise can result in fatigue or even muscle cramps. With all of this in mind, you need to focus on nutrients that are going to help retain your skin’s glow, encourage good blood circulation, and give you a good energy boost. (Which, admittedly, you should probably focus on whatever the weather, really!)