Winter is a great time to nest down and get comfortable in your apartment, and then many people turn their attention back to fitness and health as temperatures rise. Prepare to put heavy comfort foods aside and adopt more summer-friendly snacks. Shedding a little bit of winter weight doesn’t have to involve a strict schedule or crazy diet, though. If you want a few simple dietary adjustments that can help you lose weight, look no further than these nine delicious summer foods.
1 – Watermelon
A large portion of the world gets hot during the summer, but desert temperatures can make it feel much more intense here in Phoenix. When the weather gets downright scorching, watermelon can be especially comforting. After all, their fruit is about 92% water, so this snack practically doubles as a refreshment. Stay hydrated, get clean nutrition, and enjoy a sweet snack at the same time– there’s a lot to love about this healthy summer food.
2 – Seafood, Tofu, and Other Lean Proteins
Protein is key to staying full and feeling good. Your body relies on it, so it’s important to plan out how you want to work it into your summer diet. Fatty meats often taste great, but they’re not especially conducive to weight loss, plus they can make people feel heavy and slow when it’s already stifling hot outside. Instead, these lighter sources of protein can help you feel better and drop a few pounds at the same time:
- Tofu
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Eggs
- Fish
- Nuts and beans
- Shellfish
- Low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese
Like with anything else, the way you prepare these foods will also affect how much they’ll help your summer weight loss efforts. None of the foods listed above are nearly as healthy once they’re breaded and fried.
3 – Creative Beverages
Plain water is great for both hot summers and weight loss (more on this later), but sometimes people want something different to drink. Here are just a few low-calorie drink options for this summer:
- Iced Coffee – If you’re a regular coffee drinker anyway, you may enjoy this just because it doesn’t involve sipping a 180°F beverage when it’s already 100°F outside. Cold brew is also naturally sweeter than regular coffee, so there’s less need to add calories with milk and sugar.
- Fruit-Infused Water – Think of this as a homemade La Croix. Water (or sparkling seltzer water) can be transformed into a different-seeming drink when you infuse it with berries, citrus, or other fruits.
- Natural Fruit Juice – As long as there’s no added sugar or other unhealthy ingredients, fruit juices are pretty healthy. Blended watermelon makes for a great summer drink.
- Sun Tea – Make a big jar of sun tea, then pour it over ice for a refreshing, low-calorie summer drink.
Pretty much any type of alcohol you drink will add lots of calories to your diet (especially depending on how much you consume). If you absolutely must drink, think about light beers, red wine, and low-calorie mixers for your liquor.
4 – Salads
Some people don’t think of salads as a desirable food option, but it’s actually really easy to make them delicious. This is especially true when you make your salads at home, which comes with lots of advantages:
- You know how healthy it really is. Some restaurant salads come with outrageously caloric dressings or a big heap of carbs on top.
- Tailor it to your own tastes. Use ingredients that you like in the proportions you want, and you can work on creating your own version of the perfect salad. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelon pieces make for refreshing summer options thanks to their high water content.
- Save money. It’s hard to come up with an example of when you could cut costs by eating out more. A lot of salad ingredients are super inexpensive, and you’re paying for a big markup when you get one at a restaurant.
- It’s easy! If you don’t know where to start when making a salad, it might be easier to think of it in layers, like a “build your own bowl” process at a restaurant. Pick out some leafy greens as a base, then add other vegetables, healthy toppings like fruits and nuts, maybe a protein, and a dressing.
5 – Cold Soup
Cold soups like gazpacho, cucumber soup, and even avocado soup can serve as a light and refreshing meal during the summer. Lots of fruits and vegetables will make a good soup base if you have the cooking know-how (or know how to Google recipes). Shrimp cocktail, while not a soup, is somewhat relevant to this category since it’s served chilled.
6 – Healthy Grilling Options
Summer is perhaps the best time to use the grill, but burgers and hot dogs aren’t always productive for the diet. The good news is that there are tons of really healthy foods that taste awesome off the grill:
- Pineapple
- Asparagus
- Chicken
- Peppers
- Watermelon
- Onions
- Fish
- Lettuce Wedges (served whole or in a salad)
- Zucchini
7 – Local Ingredients
Shopping local often seems a little bit easier in the summer, especially if you take the time to get out and go to a farmer’s market. The farm-to-table approach is great because there’s a huge bias toward whole foods. In other words, you aren’t likely to find a whole lot of home-grown chips or candy bars.
8 – Sweet Fruits
We mentioned watermelon specifically, but most fruits really make for healthy summer food options. Here are just a few ideas:
- Tropical fruit salad with bananas and pineapple
- Berry mixes with light fruit dip or whipped cream
- Grilled pineapple
- Apple slices with low-sugar peanut butter
Don’t be afraid to get creative. Chopped mango in chimichurri sauce makes a great side dish.
9 – Ice Water
It’s not technically a food, and certainly can’t replace the need to eat a responsible amount of calories, but modifying your water intake can help you lose weight. Some nutrition enthusiasts swear by drinking about 16 ounces of water shortly before a meal because this can make people consume fewer calories and lose more weight. Another big glass of ice cold water after the meal may also help raise your metabolism.
Looking for a Phoenix Apartment
Many health and fitness experts agree that the key to weight loss is a better lifestyle. The right living situation can make it easier to work out regularly and eat nutritious food. At Heers Management, we are proud to offer multiple Phoenix apartments with free gyms and convenient access to healthy food. As an added bonus, many residents become more active after moving into one of our apartments in Phoenix’s most walkable areas.
Kickstart your weight loss by shaking up your lifestyle with a new home. The kitchens in our units feature state-of-the-art appliances that make it easier to prepare healthy food. Some residents also get a lot of use from the community grills. Contact us today to learn more about our Phoenix apartments. Our staff looks forward to showing you around so you can see if this is the right place to spend your summer.