Food and Thought Newsletter - July/August 2026
Healthy Eating For The Dog-Days Of Summer.
When the weather heats up, many people escape the heat of the kitchen and prepare more foods outside on grills. The summer “cook-out” or BBQ is so popular, in fact, that it has become an important part of so many summer holidays, celebrations, and traditions! But many summer foods can be high in saturated fat (primarily from animal products), sodium, and cholesterol. Continue reading for some tips on how to eat healthier this Summer, and still enjoy the flavors of season.
Healthier Choices For The Grill
- Choose a healthy protein like fish, tofu, lean meats.
- Season with no-sodium rubs and marinades.
- Pair with whole grains and side salads.
- Add colorful veggies!
Don’t Forget To Stay Hydrated!
Most healthy adults need about 11.5 to 15.5 cups (2.7 to 3.7 liters) of fluids daily, but individual needs vary based on activity, climate, and health conditions.
For healthy adults, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences recommends about 3.7 liters (15.5 cups) of fluids per day for men and 2.7 liters (11.5 cups) for women, including all beverages and water from food sources. The commonly cited "eight glasses a day" is a simple guideline, but actual needs can be higher or lower depending on individual factors, including weather, physical activity, and certain health concerns.
Grilled Vegetable Skewers
Ingredients
- Cooking spray for grill
- 1 yellow squash, cut into rounds
- 1 zucchini, cut into rounds
- 1 small red onion cut into 1” pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1” pieces
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1” pieces
- 1 ear of fresh corn, cut into rounds
- Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
- Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
Directions
- Heat a grill to medium-high and spray with nonstick cooking oil.
- Thread the vegetables onto 4 metal skewers. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill the skewers for 8 minutes per side, or until the vegetables are tender and slightly charred.
- Remove from the grill, season to taste and serve with desired dressing or sauce.
* Tzatziki, Pesto, and Greek Dressing are all great choices!
Simple Tzatziki Recipe
- 2 cups of plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup of diced or shredded
- cucumber
- 2 Tbs lemon juice
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 Tbs chopped dill
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mix All ingredients together. Serve chilled.
Recipe sources:
https://www.loveandlemons.com/grilled-vegetables/#wprmrecipe-container-43114
https://www.liveeatlearn.com/tzatziki/
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