Summer is the perfect time to pay attention to what we eat. It’s a season full of fresh fruits and vegetables, making healthy eating more accessible. Eating foods that nourish us also makes us feel better and look better during the warmer months.
One thing the pandemic has taught us is that healthy eating is a priority. Between busy workweeks and cruising sunny weekend plans, finding time each day to buy wholesome ingredients and prepare and cook healthy, delicious meals can be a challenge. But with easy-to-follow recipes and easy access to the right ingredients, it’s possible.
Here are 5 easy and simple dishes to try this summer:
Cereal Breakfast Bowl
Eating a wholesome breakfast has many health benefits. A meal in the morning can help improve cognitive function, boost heart health, and put you in a good mood. The best way to start the morning is with a healthy breakfast bowl that will keep you energized throughout the day. Muesli is a fiber-rich food known for being high in protein and nutrients.
It also helps regulate your digestive system, keeping you full and preventing unnecessary snacking. Add fresh and dried fruit, nuts and cinnamon to take your muesli to the next level. This breakfast is perfect for those on the go because you can take it with you.
Ingredients
⦁ 1/2 cup Woolworths Toasted Honey and Cinnamon Cereal
⦁ 1 calamansi, juice only
⦁ 1/2 banana, thinly sliced
⦁ 2 tablespoons.Dried mangoes, thinly sliced, plus extra for garnish
⦁ 100g low-fat yogurt
⦁ 1/4 cup Woolworths lactose-free whole milk
⦁ Coconut sugar or pure honey, to taste
⦁ Ground cinnamon, to taste
⦁ cashews, for garnish
Prepare
⦁ Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk or cereal.
⦁ Add coconut sugar or pure honey and cinnamon to taste.
⦁ Transfer the mixture to a covered container and soak in the refrigerator overnight.
⦁ Top with dried mango and chopped cashews before serving
Summer Macaroni Salad
Instead of the usual creamy, cheesy, and high-calorie macaroni and cheese, opt for something lighter, healthier, and easier to make. It’s just as delicious. What makes this dish suitable for the attentive eater is that it uses Woolworths Shredded Chicken Mayonnaise, which has just 114 calories (85g) compared to over 300 calories in regular mayonnaise.
With just a few pantry staples and a few Woolworths products, you can quickly prepare this dish for a light, after-get off work dinner or a weekend BBQ with friends. When it comes to flavor, expect a little sweetness and a hint of richness. What’s more, serving up this delicious cold salad is perfect for a warm weekend.
Ingredients
⦁ 250 grams.Woolworth’s Pasta
⦁ 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
⦁ 1 medium carrot, chopped
⦁ 1/8 cup celery, chopped
⦁ 250 grams. Woolworths Tropical Fruit Juice, drained
⦁ 150 grams.cooked ham
⦁ 1 cup Woolworths mayonnaise shredded chicken breast
⦁ 1 tsp.coconut candy
⦁ 1 tablespoon.red wine vinegar
⦁ Salt and pepper to taste
Prepare
⦁ Cook macaroni according to package directions. Then put in a large bowl.
⦁ Add chopped onion, carrot and celery. Stir well.
⦁ Add mayonnaise and red wine vinegar. Add salt, pepper and sugar to taste.
⦁ Add and stir in cooked ham and tropical fruit pieces. Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours.
Peach Papaya Power Smoothie
A daily smoothie is a convenient way to get fruits and vegetables, while also providing your body with essential vitamins. Plus, smoothies are super easy to make. Fresh seasonal fruits like papaya are packed with vitamin C and immune-boosting nutrients, and with the sweetness of Woolworths Peach Juice, Woolworths Unsweetened Almond Milk and ice cubes, you can easily create a nutritious and delicious drink.
Fruits contain energy carbohydrates and fiber, which are essential for controlling appetite and blood sugar levels. Opting to use almond milk instead of regular milk makes it a plant-based smoothie that provides long-lasting energy. Complete your smoothie with a teaspoon of chia seeds, a superfood rich in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, lots of high-quality protein, several essential minerals and antioxidants.
Ingredients
⦁ 1 papaya, sliced
⦁ 125 grams. Woolworths Peach Juice
⦁ 6 tablespoons. Woolworths Unsweetened Almond Milk
⦁ 1 1/2 cups ice, crushed
⦁ 1 tsp.Chia seeds
Prepare
⦁ Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
⦁ Blend the chia seeds into the smoothie after blending.
Macaroni with Tomatoes and White Cheese
Everyone loves pasta. When it comes to this Italian favorite, quality ingredients will make this dish stand out. This dish calls for tomatoes and kesong puti, an easy combination that is perfect for summer tastes. Instead of using fresh tomatoes that aren’t always available, opt for Woolworths diced tomatoes, a versatile ingredient every pantry should have.
What’s more, the subtle flavor of the ksumpti balances the acidity of the tomatoes. While this macaroni is great to eat hot from the pan, it’s also delicious when enjoyed as a cold pasta salad. The best part is that it is light and healthy.
Ingredients
⦁ 400 grams.Woolworth’s Pasta
⦁ 2 tablespoons.edible oil
⦁ 5 tablespoons.olive oil
⦁ 1 onion, chopped
⦁ 400 grams.Woolworth diced tomatoes
⦁ 2 tablespoons.ketchup
⦁ 1 red chili pepper (siling labuyo)
⦁ Sea Salt
⦁ 150 grams.white cheese, cut into cubes
⦁
Prepare
⦁ Cook macaroni according to package directions.
⦁ In a saucepan, heat 5 tablespoons. olive oil, then add the onions and saute until translucent. Add tomatoes and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to soften. Add tomato paste, chilli and season with salt and pepper.
⦁ Pour the pasta into the pot, add the ksumpti, and heat on low heat. Add black olives and basil leaves; mix well. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve immediately with a large bowl of mixed organic vegetables.
Couscous Salad
Couscous is an excellent substitute for white rice, which has a high glycemic index (GI). When a food has a high GI, it means it significantly affects the body’s blood sugar levels. Couscous is made from small steamed balls of semolina and contains more protein and more vitamins and minerals and is a good source of fiber.
It’s one of the easiest, quickest, and most versatile ingredients you can use for cooking. For this recipe, all you need to do is add some diced bell peppers, onions, parsley, and a few other toppings, and you’ll end up with a dish that tastes just as lovely as it looks. It’s also super healthy.
Ingredients
⦁ 250 g couscous, cooked according to package directions and cooled to room temperature
⦁ 1/3 cup shallots, chopped
⦁ 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
⦁ 1/4 cup green pepper, diced
⦁ 1/4 cup yellow bell pepper, diced
⦁ 1/2 cup parsley sprigs, chopped
⦁ 2 lemons, juiced
⦁ 1/3 cup olive oil
⦁ Salt, to taste
⦁ 1/2 cup almonds (striped), toasted
Prepare
⦁ Combine cooked couscous, green onions, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, and fresh parsley in a large bowl. In a small bowl whisk together the juice and zest of two lemons and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
⦁ Add couscous salad dressing 30 minutes before serving. Top with toasted almond flakes.
All Woolworths products Available at Shopwise, Robinsons Supermarket and The Marketplace Rustans nationwide.You can also buy Woolworths products through the GoRobinsons mobile app, and website.
