So it’s that time of the year again! Children are off daycare, they have more time to spend with family and friends, and the days are longer. There’s nothing like Summer! But how do you find the time to cook Healthy meals amidst all this busy schedule? We’ve got you covered with five Summer dinner recipe ideas.
We understand that might be mixed feelings: you crave to spend more time with the family all year long. And when you do get it, there’s just so much to do! There might be toys around the house, cousins and neighbors might be spending time at your place…
So while your Little One is busy enjoying their Summer vacation, Moms might be left with a lot on their plate.
The Value Of Keeping Dinner Time During Summer
Although a fair share of your routine might be suffering from the new playtime schedules, it’s still important to keep somewhat of a routine.
The reason for it is that consistency helps to create a sense of order and commitment for children. They do need to know that there are parts of their lives they can’t deprioritize, even during busy periods like Summer.
So while you can slightly flex a few habits like bedtime or the type of outfits children wear during Summer, there is still value in keeping settlements like dinner time with the family.
Summer Dinner = Healthy Choices
During the Summer, you might have compromised bedtime, allowing your Little Vacationer to go to bed a little later than usual.
They are probably spending more time outdoors, socializing and enjoying themselves with friends.
Keep an extra eye on their food choices during this time of year. Make sure they’re drinking enough water, eating healthy snacks and not skipping meals!
In that matter, let’s see what Moms can cook during Summer to make sure everyone at home is fully served with a healthy meal.
Summer Dinner Recipe Ideas
Chicken Avocado
Turn this into a full salad bowl, or use it as a filling for tacos and sandwiches!
1) To prepare, simply grill or pan-sear the chicken breasts until fully cooked, then slice them thinly.
2) Dice a ripe avocado and toss it together with the chicken. Add in some cherry tomatoes, red onions, and a squeeze of lime for a fresh, tangy kick.
3) Season with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
4) Serve this mixture over a bed of greens, in a taco shell, or stuffed in a sandwich for a versatile and satisfying summer meal.
Pasta with Veggies
Let’s be honest: pasta is one of our favorites go-to when it comes to easy dinners for the family. It’s easy to increase your regular pasta sauce by stashing it with vegetables.
Add your favorite protein to make the meal complete and fulfilling!
1) Boil your preferred type of pasta until al dente.
2) While the pasta is cooking, sauté a mix of seasonal veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and spinach in olive oil. Add minced garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
3) Once the veggies are tender, stir in your favorite pasta sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes.
4) Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce, mix well, and add grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu to round out the dish.
5) Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped basil before serving.
Baked Tonkatsu
A little Asian inspiration gets you far! This easy to cook dinner is perfect for busy days, especially those with higher temperatures. Serve the pork loins with a light and crispy salad and you got yourself a winner meal.
1) Start by breading pork loins in a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper.
2) Arrange the breaded pork on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
3) While the pork is baking, prepare a simple salad with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a light sesame dressing.
Serve the crispy baked tonkatsu alongside the salad, and don’t forget to drizzle some tonkatsu sauce on top for that authentic flavor.
Stuffed Zucchini
There’s really not a better combination: you use your regular Zucchini steps in as the main component of the dish – not only because it holds a delicious filling, but because it makes the dish healthier and more delicious.
This is an inventive way to get kids to eat more veggies and barely notice it!
1) Start by halving the zucchinis lengthwise and scooping out the center to create space for the filling.
2) Add salt to them and flip them upside down. This will help drain out a bit of liquid from the zucchini, making it less mushy and tasting extra delicious when cooked!
3) In a skillet, sauté onions, garlic, and the scooped-out zucchini flesh until tender. Mix in cooked quinoa or rice, your choice of protein (like ground turkey or beans), and your favorite spices.
4) Fill the zucchini boats with the mixture, top with shredded cheese, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes or until the zucchinis are tender and the cheese is bubbly.
Serve warm with a side salad or as a stand-alone dish.
Chickpea Salad
This is a meal design for vegetarians who are not willing to compromise their healthy choices: you get protein from the chickpea, vitamins and fibers from the veggies, healthy fats from the cheese… and the best part is that there is no baking involved!
The recipe is also a great strategy to clean up your fridge: assemble all those leftover veggies and add them to the chickpea salad!
1) Start by rinsing and draining a can of chickpeas. You can rinse them afterwards to get rid of any residual taste.
2) In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas with chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, red onions, and crumbled feta cheese.
3) Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, and season with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs like parsley or mint.
4) Toss everything together and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature as a light, refreshing dinner.
Summer Dinners Made Easy
We know that Moms want to make the best use of their time during Summer time. The less time you and the family spend in the kitchen, or cleaning it up after, the more quality time you get with them.
To make these recipes even more time-friendly, invest in meal prep.
Plan your meals ahead of time considering not only what you want to eat, but also what you already have available at home.
This understanding of what supplies you already have can stir up your creativity and save you from buying groceries you won’t use for the selected menu.
Also as part of the meal prep, wash and chop all your vegetables at once, and store them in airtight containers in the fridge. This saves you time when it’s time to actually toss them in the pan!
There you go! 5 easy to make and healthy Summer dinner recipe ideas you can come back to when you need inspiration.
Since you’ll be spending less time cooking, use the extra hours you’ve saved to enjoy the Summer with your family!
