8 Refreshing Foods to Beat the Heat and Keep You Hydrated

In the summer heat it is hard to stay hydrated throughout the day, but drinking water and juice can only do so much. Instead, try hydrating yourself by planning your meals ahead of time and incorporating water packed vegetables and fruits – like cucumbers, watermelon, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, celery, melon, and many others.

If its juicy, then its probably filled with the water you are looking to add to your diet. The trick is finding ways to make simple, delicious meals using these foods. Thankfully, the high water content in these these meals makes them light enough to eat even in the heat. 

Fruit Pizza

1. One versatile and sweet option is the “Fruit Pizza” which no doubt made the rounds on your instagram feed last summer. As simple to make as it is delicious, any aspiring chef can make this masterpiece following a quick trip to the supermarket for the crescent roll dough base. After letting the cream cheese soften and tucking the flattened dough into the oven, add a selection of your favorite flavorings to the filling such as: lemon zest, vanilla, or honey. First spread the mixture evenly over the crisped dough, then construct a mosaic arrangement from all your favorite fruits over the top. Here, you have free reign to design your “Fruit Pizza” just as you please – go wild with bananas, strawberries, blueberries, etc. 

Watermelon Fruit Pizza

2. If you want the extra hydration, the same recipe can be replicated with an eye-catching watermelon base rather than traditional dough. The thinly sliced watermelon is the perfect base for piling a variety of berries, nuts, coconut flakes, and seeds on top of a well-deserved coating of chilled cream cheese. A savoury option consisting of balsamic vinegar, olives, and feta cheese is a great appetizer if you aren’t feeling like dessert.

Grapefruit Avocado Salad

3. Of course, avocados are still the legendary health food of this generation. But elevating this crucial vegetable into a hydrating summer dish only requires a grapefruit pairing to complete your new favorite summer salad. Segmenting the pieces of grapefruit and alternating the sections with slices of avocado in pseudo-caprese salad forms the base of your grapefruit avocado salad. A light vinaigrette coating with lime juice will finish the affair and bring out the exotic flavors of this new iconic duo. 

Tabbouleh Salad

4. As exciting as these uncommon combinations are, we’d be remiss not to suggest several salads – particularly this chopped salad found at dinner tables across the Middle East. Simply mix diced tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and onion together along with 1 chopped green chili to create the salad’s base. Then season with lemon juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil to create the perfect thirst-quenching side dish. 

Wedge Salad

5. Last summer’s retro hit – the Wedge Salad – is in no rush to leave. Beat the heat with a large slice of iceberg lettuce, which, just as its name implies, has a water content of a whopping 96%. Then drizzle blue cheese dressing over the top before sprinkling bacon crumbles, chopped tomatoes, onion, and cheese crumbles across the top.

Mango Salsa

6. Mixing salty with sweet, the Mango Salsa is an easy alternative to the tried and true salsa enjoyed the world over. The centerpiece of this snack, the mango, just so happens to be at its best when the heat is at its worse. So take what the summer has to offer and combine chopped mangoes, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeño in a bowl. Then season to taste with lime juice, salt, and black pepper.

Watermelon Salsa

7. A more exotic alternative is a watermelon-based salsa that boosts your dehydrated soul thanks to the fruit’s 92% water content. In addition to red onion, cilantro, and jalapeño, you can add chopped mint leaves to the mix for a refreshing taste. Enjoyed with salty chips or your favorite salsa-vehicle alternative, this recipe is undoubtedly a keeper. 

Avocado Smoothie

8. If you are enjoying your summer on the go, a classic avocado smoothie will never let you down. Simply blitz avocados, yogurt, ice, and honey together for a cool, sweet drink that has the consistency of a meal. Alternatively, blend cold milk, sugar, and ice together for a more liquid texture. In either case, you are sure to feel hydrated since the avocado’s deceptively meaty texture hides a water content of 80%.