Get Ready for Summer: Lighter Meals

We often crave lighter meals as the weather gets warmer and our days get busier. Summer salads, seafood, and refreshing vegetable dishes seem more appetizing than heavy meat-based meals like stews and sandwiches.

It’s best to pull from a wide range of whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy when putting together your summer meals. We've collected a few tasty recipes to get you started!

Sweet Potato Fajitas

Spice up your life with these tasty sweet potato fajitas. A light meal packed with plenty of flavor, these are sure to be a hit at the family cookout.

1. Slice 2 large sweet potatoes and 2 large bell peppers into thin strips, coat with 2 tbsp olive oil, then toss with 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp each cumin, and paprika.
2. Heat a large pan over medium-high, adding 3 tbsp olive oil. Toss sweet potato and bell pepper strips in the pan and cook for 15 minutes.
3. Set mix aside, heat flour tortillas in the pan, and serve with sour cream.

Citrus Summer Salad

This simple citrus summer salad is sure to satisfy. The tangy orange gives a spark of flavor to nutritious greens, keeping your body and your taste buds happy.

1. Peel 2 large oranges and separate them into segments.
2. Cut 1 large avocado into thin slices.
3. Toss with 4 cups mixed greens, 1/2 cup blackberries, and dress with raspberry vinaigrette.

Watermelon Mint Salad

This is the perfect refreshing salad for a hot summer day. Roll out the blanket and enjoy a picnic in the sun with family and friends with this sweet and minty salad.

1. Cut 1 medium watermelon into 1" cubes.
2. Zest 1 lemon, about 1 tbsp zest, squeeze about 1 tbsp lemon juice, drizzle both over watermelon.
3. Slice 1/3 cup fresh mint into thin strips. Mix in.
4. Quarter 2 medium cucumbers lengthwise, then chop into slices.
5. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, season with freshly ground salt and pepper to taste.

 Honey Salmon Avocado Bowl

Complex flavors are the name of the game with this savory and sweet salmon bowl. This simple recipe is sure to impress at your family dinner or date night.

1. Chop 6 oz fresh salmon into 1" cubes.
2. Cook 1 cup white rice.
3. Mix 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp water, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp minced garlic in a large bowl.
4. Soak salmon in the bowl for 1 hour.
5. Heat large pan over medium-high, pan sear 1 cup fresh edamame until charred on the bottom, stirring often.
6. Sear salmon cubes in the pan, 2 minutes on each side. Add marinade and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
7. Slice 1 large avocado into thin slices.
8. Assemble bowls with a bottom layer of rice, then with edamame, avocado, and salmon. Top with spicy mayo.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical advice or a recommendation for any specific product. Consult your health care provider for more information.