Layered Summer Salad
Raw veggies like carrots and bell peppers contain soluble fiber, which can help you feel fuller faster — and they’re the perfect satisfying snack for only about 50 calories a cup.
A great dish to bring to a party, this summer salad is simple to make and stunning to look at.
Spiced Avocado Sandwich
Avocados contain healthy fats that help make our cells more insulin-sensitive — but there’s one note of caution: For optimal weight loss, avoid combining high-fat foods with simple carbs like white bread, baked potatoes, or sugar.
Instead, pair avocado with a high-fiber, multigrain bread, such as the whole-wheat pita used in this recipe.
Grilled Stuffed Calamari
A healthy hors d’oeuvre can keep you from overeating during a richer main course. Add one to your plate at your next party — or make a full meal by sampling several small appetizers and skipping the entree completely.
If your experience with calamari is limited to the deep-fried or boiled preparations, this grilled version, stuffed with tomatoes, capers, and frisee, will be a revelation.
Farm-Stand Salad with Grilled Turkey Sausage
Grilling is part of summer — but opting for fish, veggies, and leaner cuts of meat or poultry can reduce your saturated fat intake.
The ingredients for this farm-stand salad, including low-fat grilled turkey sausage and buttermilk dressing, can be spread out on a table for guests to assemble themselves. Skip the side of sourdough bread if you’re watching your weight.
Warm Stone Fruit Salad
A sweet treat after dinner doesn’t have to be full of processed sugar and fat. Summer is the perfect time to create delicious desserts starring seasonal fruit.
Part-skim ricotta stands in for ice cream in this peach and apricot dish, while the fruit is flavored with brown sugar, vanilla, and thyme.
Kiwi Summer Rolls
Using kiwi instead of shrimp makes this summer roll — perfect for packed lunches and picnics — a delicious vegetarian treat.
Asparagus and Crab Salad
With so many seasonal ingredients available in the spring and summer months, a great meal is as simple as stopping by the market and adding a few kitchen staples.
Asparagus, a cooling vegetable, can turn down your inner heat. Here, it’s paired with crab for a light, summery salad.
Banana, Berry, and Buttermilk Popsicles
To keep up the energy you need for outdoor summer activities, have a snack between meals. These frozen fruit pops get their creamy texture — and a good dose of protein — from low-fat buttermilk.
Grilled Chicken with Tomato-Tomatillo Salsa
The most important rule of summer cooking? Keep it simple. Let the farm-fresh flavors speak for themselves with light flavoring and minimal preparation.
Spanish for “little tomatoes,” tomatillos are most delicious in their green state. Here, they make a delicious salsa for grilled chicken breasts.
Avocado Rolls
Roll avocado, watercress, carrot, and mint into a cabbage leaf for this nutritious snack.
