There’s one thing on everyone’s minds at the moment – how to stay cool during this heatwave!! Man alive it’s HOT here in the UK! We’re waving goodbye to the 20 odd degree mark as we sail through to the mid 30’s and potentially beyond (unprecendented here on our little island!). So I’ve put my thinking cap on and gathered together a super helpful list of food and drink tips for how you can stay cool during a heatwave.
These 10 tips will have you well on your way to making the most of this glorious weather instead of cowering away in a corner. If you make it through to the end you’ll be rewarded with a CRAZY delicious collection of recipes that are perfect for keeping you cool on a hot day. Well worth a read given today’s temperatures I think!
How to Stay Cool During a Heatwave
1. Freeze bottles of water
Simple but effective! They will stay really cold for MUCH longer than a drink with ice in. They also double up as an ice pack that you can press onto your wrists and the back of your neck to bring down your temperature.
2. Your Microwave is Your Friend
Generating next to no heat compared with your oven – the humble microwave is great for making meals in a jiffy and keeping the heat in your kitchen to a bare minimum!
3. Eat Light, Plant Based Meals
Plant based meals like light salads are much easier to digest and therefore generate way less internal body heat. Add ingredients like watermelon, cucumber and mint which are either high in water content or have cooling/refreshing properties. This will boost your hydration and also help you feel much cooler.
4. Drink Plenty of Water
This is a no brainer but has more positive effects on the body than we could ever imagine! The best thing of all is that it keeps your body functioning as it should – which helps to keep you a little cooler and helps to minimise exhaustion. Meaning you will feel more awake and more human. See? No brainer!
5. Use More Mint
Mint is an incredible herb. It’s menthol properties have a great cooling effect on our body! Utilise in salads, drinks and basically anything else you can think of.
6. Cook Outdoors Instead of Indoors
Yes a BBQ is hot but would you really rather be switching on your oven and turning your kitchen into a sauna? NOPE! Using a BBQ opens up way more options as far as food goes too, just make sure you stand under a parasol and/or lather up in sun cream. Also be aware of tip no.7…
7. Avoid Meat and Carbs
Digesting meat (proteins) and carbohydrates is very difficult and generates a lot of internal body heat (through thermogenesis). Instead, opt for plant based foods as suggested in tip no.3.
8. All Hail the Slow Cooker!
For the same reason as your microwave – the slow cooker is KING in a heatwave! You can make an endless amount of great meals without switching your oven on and generating unecessary heat in your kitchen. (See further down in the post for some seriously delicious recipes!)
9. Wonderful Watermelon
Watermelon is ruddy marvelous. Not only is it refreshing but it’s high water content is CRAZY hydrating (nothing but a good thing during a heatwave) and, apparently, it also aids blood circulation. Which, you guessed it – helps to keep you cool! This one is a total heatwave winner.
10. Outsource
When all else fails and you’re just too hot to do anything – outsource! Pick up the phone and have someone else make your dinner and deliver it to you. God bless the takeaway!
Want more? Keep scrolling for some CRAZY delicious recipes that are perfect to make during a heatwave…
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How to Stay Cool - Perfect Recipes to Make During a Heatwave!
We're going to hit the mid 30's here in the UK today! Make smarter choices with your food and drink and it could help you feel much cooler!
Strawberry Ice Lollies with Lime & Mint
Healthy & refreshing Strawberry Ice Lollies with Mint & Lime. Made with just 3 ingredients these are a treat you will feel good about enjoying!
Easy Greek Orzo Salad
Quick, delicious & avoids using your oven! Perfect.
Showstopping Strawberries & Cream Icebox Cake
Made in 10 minutes then popped in the fridge - this indulgent dessert is light, refreshing and a great way to use the seasons beautiful strawberries!
Rhubarb and Custard Ice Cream
This beautiful rhubarb and custard ice cream recipe is traditional, seasonal and absolutely divine! Perfect for Summer.
Easy Shirazi Salad Recipe
Shirazi salad will keep you cool on hot days with fresh cucumber and fresh herbs including mint.
No Churn Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream
Cold ice cream with cooling mint. Literally the perfect way to stay cool!
Watermelon Skewers with Feta and Mint Pesto
Healthy, refreshing a delicious. The perfect snack on a hot Summer's day!
Tuna Lettuce Wraps
These tuna lettuce wraps are perfect on hot summer days. Cheap and easy to prepare too!
CRAZY Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
Team this bad boy up with microwave rice and you've got yourself a heat free kitchen!
Vegan Basil Cucumber Gazpacho
Healthy, cooling and utterly delicious - this cold soup is ideal for heatwaves.
The Ultimate Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipe
Using just one magical ‘cheat’ ingredient, you could be chilling out with a freezer full of your favourites in no time at all.
The BEST Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
This CRAZY simple slow cooker BBQ chicken recipe is utterly delicious and perfect to make on a hot Summer day!
Slow Cooker Satay Chicken Lettuce Cups
These lettuce cups are one of my favourites when it’s too hot to be in the kitchen! They’re super summery and can be served in the garden.
No Fuss Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Everyone loves a pulled pork sandwich! Made in the slow cooker - this requires no fuss and no heat. WIN!
Have you made any of these recipes?
Will these easy cooling Summer recipes be making an appearance in your household? I’d love to know if it is! Send me your pics and comments on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram or email me at emma@kitchenmason.com.
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