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Summer heat has a way of turning even the most confident adult into a sweaty toddler clutching a popsicle for dear life. Don’t overthink it. Keep a stash of fruit bars and lemon ices in your freezer, so you can walk around your kitchen barefoot, peeling back that crinkly paper like it’s the best part of your day. Because it probably is.
You don’t need a fancy ice cream maker to get the cool fix, either. Blend frozen mango with a splash of coconut milk and lime until it’s creamy, and you’ve got yourself a soft-serve moment without the guilt or the trip to a neon-lit chain. Keep a cold bowl of watermelon cubes in the fridge for when you get home from errands, and you’ll thank yourself for days. And if you’re the type who can’t resist an iced coffee, try shaking it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a pinch of flaky salt when the afternoon slump hits. It’s the small rebellions that keep summer tolerable.
Delicious Snacks for the Summer
There’s something about summer that makes candy taste even better, but you don’t need to drown in the cheap stuff that sticks to your teeth and your conscience. If you’re going to reach for something, make it count, and by that, I mean chocolate bars worth hiding from your kids.
Find a dark chocolate bar with crispy quinoa or sea salt, stash it in the fridge, and break off squares when you’re in the mood for something sweet that doesn’t taste like sugar sludge. If you’re feeling extra, melt some into warm milk for a backyard “hot” chocolate when the nights drop below 75, which is practically winter in July. Let your kids eat the freezer pops while you savour something that actually tastes like chocolate, not a melted candle.
Fruit dipped in melted chocolate and thrown in the freezer is another move you won’t regret. Grapes, banana slices, strawberries, if you’re worried about it sticking, put them on a parchment-lined plate, and don’t hover impatiently over them like I do. Let them freeze solid, and they’ll taste like a dessert you’d pay for on vacation, except you can eat it in your pyjamas.
Make It a Drink
Summer drinks can be refreshing or regretful. If your hydration plan is “iced coffee until the sun goes down,” I get it, but you eventually need something else in your glass.
Cold brew with a splash of oat milk and cinnamon hits differently when it’s ninety degrees and you’re hiding in the shade. Keep a pitcher of iced green tea in your fridge, drop in some mint, and let it become your go-to between all the cold coffee. And while I won’t stop you from living your Aperol Spritz dreams, try a spritz with elderflower tonic and lemon if you want to keep your brain clear while your taste buds are happy.
Watermelon juice is worth the mess it makes on your cutting board. Blend it, strain it if you can’t stand pulp, and squeeze in a bit of lime. It’s the drink that makes you feel like you’re on vacation, even if your vacation is on your back porch while your kid plays with the hose. And if you’re feeling fancy, freeze some in ice cube trays so your next seltzer gets an upgrade.
Salty, Crunchy, Irresistible
You know how it goes: one minute, you’re minding your business, and the next, you’re craving spicy snacks so badly you’re scouring the pantry for something crunchy that bites back.
You don’t need to settle for sad potato chips that taste like old oil. Look for kettle-cooked chips with jalapeño, tortilla chips with a squeeze of lime, or popcorn tossed with chili powder and a touch of brown sugar. If you’re feeling like you need to trick yourself into being healthy, roasted chickpeas with smoked paprika and sea salt hit that salty craving without leaving you bloated and sorry.
Don’t sleep on pickles either. Cold, crunchy pickles on a hot day are a whole personality, and they make every sandwich taste like a meal you’d actually want to eat. Keep a jar in the fridge and steal a spear or two when the afternoon munchies hit. Or slice them up for a quick snack plate with sharp cheddar and crackers when your energy dips around four.
Treats for the Grill
Grilling isn’t just for burgers and whatever frozen veggie patties you’re forcing yourself to pretend you like. It’s also your ticket to summer treats that feel like a party without actually requiring you to host one.
Cut peaches or pineapple into thick slices, brush with a little oil, and toss them on the grill until you get those char marks. Warm fruit tastes like pie without the pie, and you can throw it over vanilla ice cream or yogurt if you’re feeling responsible. Grilled fruit also makes a solid base for a cold salad with mint, feta, and a splash of balsamic if you’re trying to impress yourself on a Tuesday night.
If you’re looking for something more indulgent, wrap bananas in foil with a handful of chocolate chips and let them hang out on the grill until the chocolate melts. Open it up and eat with a spoon like the campsite treat you wish you had as a kid. No sticky s’mores mess, but all the same satisfaction.
The Good Part
You don’t need a Pinterest board’s worth of perfect snacks to make summer feel like summer. What you need is something cold when you’re hot, something sweet when you’re tired, and something salty when your taste buds want to wake up. And you need to let yourself enjoy it without turning it into a project.
Keep it easy. Keep it good. And if you get your hands on a perfect slice of watermelon or a cold drink that hits just right, let yourself savour it without the guilt trip. That’s the treat.
