Please join me in welcoming Sally Perkins to my blog as her timely post talks about beating the heat with summer deliciousness, and other tips.

How To Stay Cool & Beat the Heat

by Sally Perkins

The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and the weather is slowly yet surely warming up. The signs are all here: Summer is coming. While the season may signify a lot of different things to a lot of different people – swimming, sports, hiking, etc., it’s also prime time for picnics. Yet, while picnics on TV always seem so picturesque, in real life, they can oftentimes result in a hot mess! What can you do to keep both you and your refreshments cool?

Here are a few suggestions:

Squeeze Some Lemon

We know there are certain fruits and vegetables that may turn brown when cut up and exposed to oxygen. Squeeze some lemon juice on sliced fruits before taking them out for some fun in the sun, and they will look much more appealing when it’s time to munch down! Fruit salads are another great way to keep your fruits fresh, as you can mix and match apples and pears with citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit – the latter of which will add some tanginess while effectively keeping your fruits looking their best.

Ayurvedic Principles

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medicinal practice, and philosophy, states that there are both warming and cooling foods. When the temperatures rise, you want your food to keep you feeling light, energetic and cool rather than weighed down, tired and even more hot! According to Ayurvedic principles, fruits such as melons, grapes, pears, and mangoes are cooling, with spices and herbs like mint and cilantro also contributing to an overall cooling effect. Follow Ayurvedic principles and incorporate them into your summer picnics to stay refreshed!

Do-It-Yourself Coolers

With certain drinks and sweet treats, especially chocolate, you may need a little more help to keep them cool and solid. This is when homemade ice comes in handy. Just fill up a Ziploc bag with some ice and put it at the bottom of a container, placing your sweet treats on top. Voila, a Do-It-Yourself cooler! You can do the same thing for drinks; just add some ice to a bag or Tupperware large enough to fit the bottle/carton, and place your drink in there. When settling down for your treats in the sun, you will be glad for any extra cooling touches!

So if you are excited about the warmer weather, you can now get excited about picnics as well. The tips mentioned above will keep you feeling cool and refreshed, and help you in beating the heat!