Summer Time & Don't Want to Turn on the Oven?

[tankini]

During the heat of summer many of us don't want to turn on the oven and cook and get hot in the kitchen. After all, when you get home from work in the sweltering heat, the last thing you want to do is crank up the stove and start dinner from scratch. But, don't get tempted to do the easy and convenient drive throughs! Here are some tips I found from Weight Watchers to beat the heat of the kitchen in summer time:

Plan ahead and Stock up your kitchen. Now is the time of year for many great, fresh fruits and vegetables that are available in the warmer months. Cook them up, or simply enjoy them raw. To make it even easier on keep canned and frozen veggies on hand – there's no chopping required. And think about what else you could keep around to reduce time spent over the stove.

Assemble meals rather than cook. i.e. salads & sandwiches. Create some heat-less or low-heat meals.

Cook once, eat several times later. Take advantage of the cooler days by making extra and store it away for when the sun is less forgiving.

Check out new meal ideas. Always be on the lookout for different, easy meals i.e. what's fresh in the fish case at the supermarket?, Or what's in season at the farmer's market?

Be resourceful. Ask your friends what they do to cut down on cooking time during the summer...

[Lydiapurple]

mmmm low fat fruit smoothies are my favorite treat right now. I make them with fruit and low fat yogurt and blend it together with ice in the blender. Makes a great low fat treat for hot days!