What are you eating to beat the heat?

by Nicole Weston, Posted Jul 25th 2006 @ 8:12PM

With the heat wave continuing on, with little relief from the high temperatures in sight, we need to think of things to do that will cool us down. And by "things to do," I mean "things to eat." When it's hot out, it's hard to muster up the energy to cook and air-conditioned restaurants start to look very tempting, especially if you live in an area that is dealing with a power crunch.

With temperatures well over 100F, even reaching above 110F, I've been relying on salads and cold drinks, like iced tea and blended coffee drinks, though I have gone through quite a bit of very spicy salsa (on the cooling down by heating up theory), too.

What are some of the foods that you're eating that keep you cool when it gets hot out? Gazpacho or another chilled soup? Refreshing agua fresca? Watermelon?

Filed Under: Spirit of Summer, How To
Tags: cool down, cool ideas, cool recipes, cooling, heat, hot, summer

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-25-2006 @8:55PM Mike said... Shandy! Lager and sprite or Pilsner and ginger ale. Start at about 50-50 and adjust to taste.
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7-25-2006 @9:07PM calamari said... Limeade! Juice of 10 limes... 3 T sugar dissolved in a cup of hot water... add cold water until the color and concentration seem good. Add more sugar if you really must.

With a lever-style juicer, this takes no time at all to make.
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7-25-2006 @10:47PM Adriane said... Cold cucumber slices with a bit of good salt and oil...mmm. I recommend Diva cucumbers because they are so crunchy and have a thin skin.
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7-25-2006 @11:21PM kaitlin Hess said... Watermelons! At least 1 a day!
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7-26-2006 @1:26AM Albany Jane said... Lately it's been anything that doesn't make me turn on the oven. Cold sesame noodles, microwaved Boca burgers, and of course, only the finest champagne - J. Roget. It's really refreshing on hot summer evening (especially sans AC).
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7-26-2006 @3:31AM Kat said... Eating cold noodles, salads, ice cream, drinking iced coffees and iced teas
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7-26-2006 @3:59AM Esther said... The beverage that chills you to the lees, is a yogurt drink. Homemeade yogurt can be tailored to be low-fat and this yogurt is diluted with water and then whipped with salt, cilantro, black pepper and ginger to add to the zing.
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7-26-2006 @6:31AM Tom said... Frozen bananas...........are very good for u in the hot weather ,and good for you
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7-26-2006 @8:36AM ann said... cold brined almonds!
salty, chilly and delicious! the perfect thing after a long hot walk around the city
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7-26-2006 @8:57AM Chrissy said... Gelato, iced coffee, salads (loaded with fun ingredients, no iceberg here!) and enough fruit to support a small island.
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7-26-2006 @8:59AM Jody Anderson said... popcicles, try the new flavors that popcicle brand offers! Not just for kids anymore, for the kid at heart! :)
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7-26-2006 @9:48AM Rhea said... Watermelon! I've been one every couple of days and devouring it all by myself! I make sure to get the 'no seeds' kind.
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7-26-2006 @10:28AM Myron said... I was recently in Japan and introduced to a great dish for hot weather: zaru soba. It cold buckwheat noodles and an excellent lunch for a hot day. If I was more ambitious I would figure out how to make them here in my hot American suburb.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2341.html
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7-26-2006 @10:32AM DeAnne Girton said... For hot, humid weather, how about buying a pound of large shrimp? If they are previously frozen/cooked, all you have to do is put them in water to thaw and eat cold with shrimp cocktail sauce. Add some steamed white rice and a side salad ! Low cal, low fat and high in protein !
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7-26-2006 @10:35AM DeAnne Girton said... Yogurt/fresh fruit smoothies! Put a cup of yogurt in the blender with fresh strawberries, bluberries, bananas or other fruit. Add some orange juice (or cheat with some Sunny Delight as it is sweeter), add ice and blend. You can add also a scoup of protein powder ! Or, for an evening treat, you can get naughty and add some Vodka or rum, LOL.
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7-26-2006 @10:37AM Dr. Electro said... Really nice variety melons are in season right now in my area. As I type this I am eating Santa Claus melon. Ice cold from the fridge, it really cools the body. It's a healthy choice to boot.
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7-26-2006 @12:52PM Adriane said... ooo- I almost forgot! Esther and DeAnne have it right on the money...I love smoothies to beat the heat. mmmmm!
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7-26-2006 @2:06PM Jay L said... My overall strategy is to still to grill/bbq a bunch of meat every few days and then stick to just veggies plus leftovers for the rest of the days. It's much easier to get by with lightly cooking veggies than meat. For heaven's sake don't do anything requiring an oven.

For example,
day 1: a bunch of grilled sirloin tips, grilled zucchini, etc.
day 2: leftover sirloin tips + a big asian slaw/salad thing
day 3: leftover slaw + some steamed chard
day 4: turkey burgers (on the grill, of course)
... etc.

As a side note, the Boston Globe food section today featured a recipe for risotto. Is that bad timing, or what? I mean who wants to stand and stir in front of a hot stove for an hour this time of year?
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