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As the sun bears down with ever increasing fury and the mercury continues to soar,
you know there’s
no escape from summer. It’s the season when the slightest activity causes sweat to
dot your brow and energy levels and appetite both go for a toss. But there are ways to make summer less
unbearable, even pleasant. Eating the right foods is one of them.
Here is a guide to some really cool foods you should have this summer: |
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Cooling drinks:
In summer, juices and cool drinks are more than a luxury. They rehydrate you and replenish sugar and salts lost through perspiration.
Coconut water is an excellent option that is as nourishing as it is cooling. Other great indigenous options include fruit and sugarcane juice,
nimbu pani, kokan juice, aam panna (a drink made from raw mangoes), neera, chhaas or jal jeera. Avoid colas and aerated drinks however,
as these can be dehydrating. |
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Fruits:
Nutritious, full of water and refreshing, fruits make the ideal summer foods. Watermelons, melons, citrus fruits and other juicy fruits are tasty snacks
to beat the heat. Many seasonal Indian fruits available at this time – such as mangoes (ripe and raw), jamuns, safed jaam and litchis – have properties
that make them especially appropriate for this season. |
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Soups:
Soups can be a healthy staple in your summer diet. You can of course pick from the usual tomato, mixed vegetable, corn or moong options. But chilled
soups made from vegetables such as cucumber or carrot, along with fruits and herbs such as mint and coriander, will make a refreshing change. Apart from
being hydrating, soups will also help you to eat less and thus stay lighter. |
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Salads:
A good serving of salads can perfectly complement your summer meals. In fact, chopped cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, beetroot, lettuce, with
some sprouts, lime juice and a dash of salt, can make for a filling and appetizing meal in itself. The added bonus is that you are saved the bother of slaving
in the kitchen. |
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Curd:
Curd is another cooling food that is especially good for hot summers. It is rich in vitamin B and helps soothe allergies and ulcers that are
common during hot weather. You can either have it as it is, with rice, or in the form of any of its delightful preparations such as
flavored yogurt, shrikhand, mishti doi, lassi or chhaas. |
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Light gravies:
Save your biryanis and kormas for when it’s cooler. Now you need watery gravies that can go well with rice. Light curries made using
vegetables such as tomatoes, dudhi and pumpkin will nourish you without weighing you down. Adding kokam, tamarind,
jeera, herbs such as kadhi patta and coriander, or again, curd, will make them more cooling and appetizing.
You are better off avoiding or restricting foods that can aggravate the discomforts of summer. So, avoid eating
heating foods such as meat, eggs and fatty dairy products, as also fried, spicy or salty foods. Also go slow
on nuts and dry fruits. Finally, cut down your consumption of caffeinated beverages such as
tea, coffee and colas. |
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