One of the best things about summertime: NO MORE PIT FOOD!
OK, I’ll admit that I like the bustling atmosphere, the all-you-can-eat cereal station, and meeting up with friends for lunch and dinner. But after a semester of turkey sandwiches, mediocre salads, and M&M cookies, I’m ready for some real food.
Living on campus has only one downside – no kitchen. The best I can do is oatmeal, PB&J, and microwave waffles. For a girl who loves to cook and test lots of different foods, being home for the summer means lots of home-cooked family dinners.
Not only do I have a full kitchen and stocked pantry at my disposal, I also have all of the best seasonal fruits and vegetables to create summery salads, pastas, and desserts. I’ve recently become obsessed with ethnic food—especially Indian—and one of my new favorite things to cook is chicken curry using lots of colorful, delicious veggies.
Hold on, let’s get real. You think I have that much time to cook fancy, complicated meals every night all summer long? Not a chance. I may be staying home this summer, but I have an internship and two part-time jobs. Nevertheless, a girl still has to eat—and eat well.
How can you take advantage of all the wonderful seasonal foods and manage time at work? Let’s start with breakfast: grab a piece of fresh fruit—peaches, plums, and strawberries are all delicious in the summertime—in addition to your usual granola bar or yogurt in the morning. Top your whole-grain high-fiber cereal or yogurt parfait with fresh berries and pineapple. Or add sliced banana in your oatmeal or on top of a piece of whole grain toast with a thin spread of peanut butter. A delicious and nutritious breakfast.
You can be even more creative at lunch and dinnertime. Always make sure to balance your plate: half fruits and veggies, one-quarter lean protein, ¼ starch or whole grain. Spice up your salad with berries, grapes, mandarin oranges, fresh corn, and green peas. Sauté colorful bell peppers and summer squash for a tasty side dish or stir-fry starter. Mix up your typical turkey sandwich with sprouts, arugula, fresh tomato slices, and cucumber.
And we can’t forget about dessert: sliced strawberries and raspberries make excellent ice cream sundae toppings. Pick out your favorite summer fruit and turn it into a pie or even—for those daring chefs—homemade jam! And chopped fruit adds color and deliciousness to those holiday jello molds your grandmother will ask for.
Basically, keep it simple, keep it fresh, keep it seasonal. Take advantage of being at home, visit the local farmer’s market whenever possible, and treat yourself to some homemade summer dishes before you have to go back to Pit food in the fall.
*Photography by Sam Hoback