Ideal Summer Fare

Summer is all about cooling foods – salads such as Greek salad (with cucumber being the main ingredient), chilled Thai noodle salad loaded with mint and coriander, watermelon and feta salad are a good lunch option for summers. Include a lot of greens vegetables and fruits that are high on water content in your main course. Dishes such as whole-wheat pasta, slightly tossed in olive oil or a crunchy quiche works well too. Serve your food with a lot of dips that are yogurt-based to sooth your system. Mainly concentrate on foods that beat dehydration, which is a common problem during summers.

Tips on dressing up your platter
- While planning your plate, make it colourful; a little colour on the plate can really refresh your senses. Throw a lot of raw and fresh veggies such as yellow and red bell peppers, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and purple cabbage, asparagus that are cheerful and nutritious.

Quick tip: If your main ingredients are green, try and use garnishes with contrasting colours like chopped tomatoes or red peppers and vice versa.

- Add a lot of fresh herbs like coriander leaves, mint leaves, basil, parsley to add flavour to your food without adding excessive masalas.

- Use seasonal vegetables as much as possible. Squash, okra, tomatoes, spring onions, bottle gourd are a good bet.

Summertime No-nos

- Avoid heavy dressings like Thousand Island and mayonnaise-based food as this could be heavy on the stomach. Try and keep your dressings light with just a touch of olive oil and lemon juice or vinegar

- Do not overcook your food as it can cut down on the nutrition levels of your meal. Gentle tossing and light grilling are the best cooking methods to adapt in summers

- Eat only fresh food