Hello, friends!

This time of year can get very busy–especially with the recent chaos that has affected almost every single person, family, and business. But as our lives (and our mindsets!) return to a normal, less anxious, more rational state, we are free to think of the activities we love. There is a lot to look forward to! After all, the weather is warm and the sun is shining…this really is a treat. 🙂

However, we all know how summer fun can distract us from thinking about meal planning and food preparation. It can be hard to stay on task with so much to do! Lately, my husband and I have had extra work because we are constantly slathering sunscreen on our babies and cleaning dirt off of them and the floor. It has been so fun to watch them playing outside together. Anyway, I wanted to share a couple of simple ways to throw food together for a fresh, fast meal so you can keep enjoying the sunshine and fresh air (Open Air Therapy is a real thing!). Here are some of our go-to summer meal ideas:

1. Smoothies: Often served as a meal in itself, smoothies are so easy. We don’t do too many during the winter, but summer is the perfect time to cool off with one! Our favorites are kombucha and/or kefir smoothies. Simply use kombucha or kefir, frozen fruit, a banana, and optional raw honey to taste. 
2. Salad: Salad can be your main course or a side dish. We love using arugula topped with some olive oil, black pepper, and balsamic vinegar. You can also add apples, onions, and tomatoes. Add a protein (chicken, sardines, salmon, or steak) to make it a main dish.
3. Canned wild-caught fish: Tuna, sardines, mackerel, or salmon are staples for us. Though my babies like to eat plain sardines, I like to have mine with kimchi and natto if I have any (I buy mine at Toucan International Market…so good!). Sounds like a goofy combination, but I just can’t get enough of the spicy, crunchy, unique flavors. Obviously, this isn’t everyone’s favorite way to eat canned fish…so you could try making a sandwich out of it, a tuna-bake, or just eating it with crackers. 🙂
4. Oatmeal in the mornings: Using the Nourishing Traditions oatmeal recipe saves us a lot of time because the oats are soaked overnight and will cook in only a few minutes! Digestible, filling, and so delicious, we love our oats with raisins, butter, and cream. It is also tasty served cold as leftovers…but on to the next point:
5. Make extra-large dinners: We do this out of habit at all times of the year, but this trick is excellent for summertime! Leftovers, even served cold, are the perfect solution to the craze that comes with summer plans. Make enough to serve at 2-3 meals instead of just 1. This has saved me a ton of time on meal planning and dishes.

I hope you are enjoying these magnificent summer days! It is such a gift to experience the beauty and healing powers of Spring. We could all use the warm hugs the sun offers, the rejuvenating fresh air, the sight of budding flowers and leaves, and the smiles that you see on the faces of delighted children enjoying the lovely weather. Happy Spring to you all! 🙂