Simple Summer Food Habits

Simple Summer Food Habits

Summer brings longer days, warmer weather and plenty of opportunities to enjoy fresh, vibrant foods that help you feel good from the inside out. With just a few simple habit shifts, you can stay energised, nourished (and yes, keep your weight stable!) without complicated planning or restrictive rules.

We’ve put together some easy, sustainable ways to support your body, keep your energy steady, and help you feel balanced all season long.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Summer is the season when your body works extra hard to keep cool—heat, humidity, and all that extra outdoor fun means you lose fluids faster than you think. That’s why topping up your hydration is one of the simplest (and well researched!) ways to support your energy, mood, and overall wellbeing.

Make pure, filtered water your daily go-to. Keeping a water bottle within reach is an easy reminder to sip often. For a refreshing twist, drop in slices of orange, lemon, lime, cucumber, mint, or even a few berries, think of it as a natural vitamin-infusion for your cells.

And remember, hydration isn’t only about what you drink. Plenty of foods contribute too! Juicy fruits like watermelon, strawberries, and grapes, along with hydrating veggies like cucumber and tomatoes, are naturally rich in water and electrolytes. Add them to meals and snacks to keep your cells nourished, hydrated, and happy all summer long.

Swap Out Your Sides

Supermarket coleslaw and potato salads might be convenient but they're often heavy, creamy, and loaded with added fats and sugars. Your body thrives on fresh, whole foods so giving your sides a little upgrade can offer more nutrients, more fibre and far less ‘weighing you down’ after a meal. Try swapping the store-bought salads out for fresher, whole-food-alternatives such as:

Make Friends with Salad

Summer salads definitely don’t have to be boring bowls of iceberg lettuce!
With the right ingredients, they can be colourful, hearty, and genuinely satisfying meals that keep you energised for hours. The secret is to build your bowl with a balance of leafy greens, quality protein, healthy fats, complex carbs, phytonutrients and a sprinkle of medicinal herbs for extra goodness.

Add in:

  • Leafy greens like rocket, cos or spinach
  • Colourful veggies such as beetroot, capsicum and carrot
  • A quality protein source - beans, chicken, tofu or fish
  • Whole grains like quinoa, couscous or brown rice
  • Healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, seeds or olive oil
  • Something fun: berries, fresh herbs or a crunchy topper

Click the link here to learn how to build a truly satiating salad bowl. 

Go for the Fruit and Veg on the Platter

When you’re at a barbecue, picnic, or party, make the fresh fruit and vegetable platters your best friends. They are naturally hydrating, high in fibre and often the most refreshing things on the table. Filling up on these first can help balance your appetite and leave you feeling more satisfied—without feeling weighed down. Seasonal fruits like peaches, cherries, watermelon and berries are especially perfect in the summer heat.

 Bonus Tip: Keep It Cool in the Kitchen

When it’s too hot to cook, embrace no-cook or minimal-cook meals. Think wraps, chilled Summer Chia Puddings, hummus and veggie platters, smoothie bowls, cooling fruit ice-cream (like our Coco Collagen Ice-creams) or, quick stovetop dishes that don’t require the oven. This keeps meals simple, nutritious, and heat-friendly.

Summer is the perfect time to refresh your routine, nourish your body, and build habits that leave you feeling lighter, brighter, and more energised. By staying hydrated, choosing fresher sides, embracing hearty salads, piling your plate with colourful fruits and veggies, and keeping things cool in the kitchen, you’re already setting yourself up for success. These small, simple shifts add up and they're exactly the kind of sustainable habits that make healthy living feel effortless.

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