The sun is shining, the ice cream trucks are out, and the smell of next door’s BBQ is in the air. Summer’s finally here. It’s the perfect opportunity to fuel your body with nutritious food and glow from the inside out. But where do you start? Read on for refreshing summer salads, summertime grilling ideas, healthy summer snacks, and the best summer foods to eat this season.
Summer salad recipes
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The best summer salads are never bland or boring. They’re bursting with flavour and nutrition to refuel and refresh your body. Make these summer salad ideas for a side dish or have a healthy helping for a nutrient-dense meal. Here are our favourite fresh summer salads:
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The number one rule for summer salads is that they have to be filling and tasty. Our bean and lemon salad recipe uses soya beans, which are abundant in protein and bursting with fibre - great for digestive health. These beans are an excellent choice for packing on muscle or encouraging thicker, healthier hair.
Read more: How To Hit Your Vegan Protein Intake.
We’ve given this fresh summer salad a revitalising zing with an infusion of apple cider vinegar, lemon and fresh mint. The cucumber slices provide a refreshing crunch, and cherry tomatoes add a subtle sweetness.
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The heart of this salad is crumbly, creamy feta, which is lower in fat than cheddar and turns any meal into a mini Greek getaway. Slices of grilled courgette mellow out the feta, and the sprinkle of walnuts gives it a pleasant crunch. Walnuts are an incredible source of Omega-3, which nurtures heart health and moisturises skin from the inside out for a dewy complexion.
Top summer salad tip:
If you love pasta, try out summer pasta salad recipes. Make Cajun Spiced Pasta or Creamy Cashew Pasta and have a side salad for a filling summer dinner.
Best summer lunch ideas
Ditch the basic ham sandwich and switch to summer-fresh meals to boost that afternoon slump.
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These free-from wraps are simple to make and better for your body than refined flour. The spinach gives the wraps a natural green colour and sneaks in leafy greens for extra iron and energy.
You can add whatever fillings you fancy. We love creamy avocado and garlic-fried mushrooms. But you can also experiment with grilled halloumi or spicey strips of chicken.
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Our vegan-friendly BLT uses carrot bacon - don’t knock it til you try it! Carrots are fantastic at protecting your immune system and contributing to wound healing, ideal for restoring skin affected by acne.
Marinade finely sliced carrots in maple syrup, smoked paprika, and tamari soya sauce for a rich flavour. Bake until the carrot ribbons are crispily sweet, and layer them onto bread with vegan mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato for a reimagined classic BLT.
Summertime grilling ideas
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Is it really summer unless you have a BBQ on a warm summer evening? We don’t think so, so we’ve collated the best grilling ideas for a summer glow-up. These summer grilling recipes are vegan-approved and great crowd-pleasers for friends and family. Plus, they’re nutrition-rich to care for your body as the weather gets hotter.
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Some of the best summer dinners have to be burgers. But if you’re cutting back on meat, you may want to switch beef for something fibrous and health-enhancing. John Bishop’s Chickpea Burgers are high in protein and spiced with a pinch of paprika for healthy blood flow and better energy.
Read more: 5 Plant-Based Proteins You Need To Know.
Quinoa Burgers & Simple Chunky Salsa
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Quinoa is a nutty-tasting grain that balances blood sugar and lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It’s also a source of protein and full of fibre for gut, hair, and nail health. With this recipe, you can skip the blender and dive straight into making texture-rich patties before frying them on the BBQ.
Of course, all good summertime meals need a side dish. So, we’ve paired this vegan burger with mouth-watering chunky salsa made with juicy tomatoes and sweet red onion—a match made in summer heaven.
Good summer snacks
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Snacking can be the downfall of a transformative summer diet. You get peckish and reach for a bag of crisps instead of a banana. So, we’ve rustled up a few summer snack recipes to keep you nourished between meals
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Going for a long outdoor hike or cycling in the sun? These summery granola bars are the perfect pick-me-up. They're made with sweet dates and creamy almond butter to satisfy your sweet tooth and feed a rumbling stomach. This granola bar is also scattered with superfood almonds for luminous skin and oats to soothe a bloated belly.
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Imagine sinking your teeth into a bar of soft baked oats and juicy apricot jam. That’s what you can do with these homemade crumble bars. Make them over a rainy summer weekend, or bake with the kids ready for a picnic. But be warned - there might be a scramble to get the last one!
Best summer drinks
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No good summer meal is complete without good summer drinks, especially if you’re hosting a dinner party or relaxing beneath a starlit sky.
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One of our best summer mixed drinks is the classic Piña Colada, alcohol-free for a radiant glow the following day. This mocktail is a blend of vibrant papaya and pineapple with creamy coconut milk. Sit back and sip for a tranquil summer retreat in your back garden.
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When the heat’s getting too much, but you’re bored of plain water, hydrate with a blissful fusion of Pukka’s three-mint ice tea. Brewed with peppermint, spearmint, field mint, and a dash of energising lime to reawaken your senses.
Get your summertime glow with Grape Tree’s best summer foods
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Sparkle from the inside out with a good summer meal using our summertime recipes. Savour a refreshing salad, relish a grilled plant-based burger and sip on an elegant mocktail to nourish and refresh. Get your glow this summer with Grape Tree.
