Summertime food choices are completely different from what we crave during the colder winter months. While we all love cuddling up with a nice bowl of hot soup during the winter, everyone looks forward to summer for garden-fresh food. Even though most people living in modern society can now get whatever food they want all year long, we still tend to gravitate toward certain food in the summertime. Let’s look at some delicious summer foods that you’re probably craving and why.
Food + Drinks to Stay Cool
In the summer months, your body naturally wants to cool itself down by eating things that help. Most of the food that is craved in the summer has a real reason for being wanted, such as the need for more energy and more hydration. Food like watermelon is full of energy-giving natural sugars plus lots of water. I also love the early summer months because they’re perfect for blueberry pickin’! Try this tasty Sparkling Blueberry Lemonade from Coffee With Us 3.
Sweet Energetic Foods
You’ll notice that in the summer you start craving more sweet food. One reason is that pretty much all produce is naturally a little sweet. This is what our body is made to eat during the summer, so that’s why we crave it. When you are craving sweets, instead of eating something processed, try a bowl (or two) of strawberries and some infused water. Try one of these delicious Strawberry recipes over at Frugal Family Adventures!
Ice Cream
There is a myth that more ice cream is eaten in the winter. In fact, more ice cream is eaten in the summer because it’s hot and we crave sweet, wet food to stay energetic and hydrated as mentioned. Plus, eating ice cream outside is best because it avoids sticky messes. Try the delicious Blackberry Margarita Ice Cream from As For Me and My Homestead!
Fresh Produce
Most of us naturally start craving more produce. Sometimes we mistake this as a craving for candy or sweets, but it is really your body telling you to eat more raw fresh produce. Try eating a chopped salad with carrots, cucumbers, apples, and different types of lettuce, and you’ll soon realize this is exactly what you want and need. We love adding fresh strawberries from Valley Home Farm to our salads for even more sweetness!
Delicious, Healthy Starchy Foods
We’re not talking about eating a bunch of processed food, but most people do crave more starchy meals such as French fries in the summer. Thankfully you can change to something healthy for your summer meals when you realize why you’re craving those things. Try adding brown rice or quinoa to your meals and salads. We love this Instant Pot Potato Salad from Through My Front Porch — quick and delicious!
Lightly Sweetened Fruit-Based Drinks
Everyone is always looking for something more interesting than water to drink. It’s true you should stick to fresh filtered water for the most part. However, you can make your water more interesting by infusing it with lemon, lime, cherries, strawberries, lavender, and even cucumbers. Try mixing it up to get different flavors.
Food that Smells Delicious
In the summer we are attracted to food that smells good. The main reason is that in the summer your sense of smell is heightened by nature, originally to help you avoid predators and find good food. Just smell the air when you open an orange, bite into an apple, or cut into a watermelon. You also can’t beat My Creative Manner’s Homestyle Baked Beans — they smell amazing!
In the summer, your body will naturally move away from comfort food toward eating lighter, sweeter, water-filled food. The main reason is that when it gets hot, your body needs more moisture and energy. The water gives the hydration, and the sugar (whether from fruit or elsewhere) provides the energy.
