Beauty Health for Life

No-Cook month continues on CHG! We’ve already tackled 13 Ways to Cook Without an Oven, so today, we’re brainstorming the dishes themselves; food that doesn’t require any heating implement to create. There’s no baking, roasting, grilling, or crockpotting involved whatsoever. All you need is a knife, a cutting board, and a stomach.

Fortunately, it’s July, which means we can take full advantage of summer produce. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, corn, melons, plums, nectarines, peaches, herbs, and leafy greens are either here or about to arrive. And that equals wicked variety, massive nutritional value, and low, low prices. Excellent.

So, without further ado: 18 no-cook meal ideas. And Im sure there are some I missed. Readers, what would you add to this list? What did I forget? (For now, we’re looking for ideas, not specific recipes. That’s next week.)

Appetizers
Rather than rifle through entrees, why not focus on the hors d’oeuvre chapter of your favorite cookbook? Perhaps some proscuitto-wrapped cantaloupe would sate your salty-sweet craving. Maybe Greek Salad Skewers can fill your grumbly stomach cavity. And who’s ever turned down a mozzarella and tomato stack? No one, my friends. No one.

Canned fish
Come August, the prospect of a mayonnaise-slathered tuna sandwich isn’t exactly appetizing. But with a little lemon juice, a few herbs, and a dollop of olive oil, canned seafood like tuna, salmon, and sardines can be kept light and fresh as the day it was pulled mercilessly from the sea. Try this Alton Brown recipe and see.

Ceviche and tartare
We mentioned marinating seafood in citrus juice in our Ways to Cook Without an Oven piece, and the idea hasn’t become any less viable over the last two weeks. If you have a few extra bucks, grab a lemon, some quality shrimp, and start soaking.

Cold soups
You’ve heard of Gazpacho, the tomato-and-cucumber-based concoction Lisa Simpson pushes on barbecues, but did you know there are hundreds of fruit and veggie soups requiring only a food processor and a basket of produce? A Google search for “cold soup recipes” yielded 1,230,000 results. Get browsing.

Crostini / bruschetta
While most recipes in this genre call for toasted bread, you can fudge it with a super-crusty baguette, a little rubbed garlic, and some olive oil. Honestly, the additional toppings are usually so tasty, no one will complain. (P.S. If you’ve ever wondered what the difference was, check this post from Foodblogga.)

Dessert
Sorbet, granita, simple whipped creams, various balls (hee), frozen pies, no-bake cheesecakes, ice cream treats, trifles … I could go on, but I’m all drooly now. So I’ll let the Kitchn and their 25 No-Bake Summer Desserts roundup take over.

Dips and spreads
Hummus, tapenades, and pestos are not just stunningly simple to make at home. They’re inexpensive, highly edible with pita chips or crudite, and eminently spreadable on sandwiches or wraps. Plus, you don’t even need a food processor. Just grab your potato masher and dub the dips “rustic.”

Fruit and fruit salad
Pedestrian cantaloupe-n-honeydew salads may understandably cause some egregious eye-rolling. But, as previously discussed, with warm weather comes a tremendous variety of in-season fruits. Whether they’re eaten whole or chopped and mixed in some sublime concoction, there are few healthier, less expensive options for summer.

Guacamole
Two avocados + 1/3rd a red onion + a small tomato + one lime’s worth of juice + a handful of chopped cilantro + salt and pepper = a dip that’ll be devoured in ten minutes.

Marinated vegetables
With a little vinegar and oil, vegetables are surprisingly simple to marinate yourself, as demonstrated in these Zucchini, Mushroom, and Cucumber Salads. If you’re not in the mood, a jar of roasted red peppers will do the trick just as well.

Salads (green)
You CSA people know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout. When the thermometer reads like a radio dial, there’s nothing quite like stuffing your face with a pile of leaves. If you can accent those greens with additional veggies - tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, what have you – all the better. And healthier.

Salads (non-green)
Of course, non-stop lettuce marathons can become tiring after a while. So why not spruce up your dinner with a bean or bread salad? There are gazillions of options online, but I particularly enjoy this Black-Eyed Pea dish from Martha Stewart and Moosewood’s Summer Panzanella.

Salsa
What simple condiment can top chips, be stuffed in a burrito, and perk up chicken breast? If you said “chocolate” … ew. If you said “salsa,” you win! Cheap, low in fat and calories, and high in various nutrients, salsa is the superfood that keeps on giving. (Especially if you’re a tad prone to indigestion.)

Sampler plates
A pal of mine had his bachelor party a few weeks ago, meaning three ladyfriends and I were left without our various menfolk. So? We had a ladies’ barbecue. We assembled lots of crudite, a few bowls of fruit, assorted olives, many jars of Trader Joe’s dip, some fine cheeses, and several kinds of crackers, breads, and pita chips. And we ate it. And it was AWESOME. (Note: the wine helped.)

Sandwiches, wraps, and pitas
(Hey! Another personal anecdote!) The last few Mondays, Husband-Elect and I dined on prosciutto, skim-milk mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and incredible olive bread procured from a nearby grocery store. We dubbed it “Favorite Sandwich,” and it’s just the thing for sweltering summer nights. You might be tempted to relegate similar cold sandwiches and wraps to lunchtime, but take it from me: don’t.

Slaws
What was your first reaction to the word “slaw”? Was it like mine? Was it “Ew! Cole slaw. Gross. I always give that to my brother. He’ll eat anything except rusty hubcaps. And even then, if you slather it with enough mustard, it’s a possibility.” But I digress. The world of slaws extends well beyond mayo-soaked iceberg lettuce. Let Leigh’s Jicama Mango Slaw be your inspiration, and then slice and julienne your way to glory.

Smoothies, lassis, parfaits, and enhanced yogurts
Remember this post about your favorite smoothies, where you gave 30 stupendous suggestions for tricking out your yogurt drinks? Man, those were the good ol’ days. But seriously, folks. Trumped-up yogurts are filling, frequently nutritious, and infinitely customizable.

Soaked noodles
Though I’ve never attempted it myself, various online sources swear you can soak noodles in very hot tap water to a satisfying al dente doneness. It takes a little longer than boiling, but if you’re dead set against oven use, it’s an option.

BONUS SECTION

If you’d like to incorporate cooked foods without using your own kitchen, think of using prepared and pre-cooked from supermarkets, restaurants, big box stores, and other large, pointy buildings where you might acquire edibles. For example:

• Hit up your local Chinese joint for a pint of white or brown rice.
• Grab a rotisserie chicken at CostCo.
• Find a salad bar and stock up on a variety of veggies.

These options might cost more than you would normally spend, but the spared sweating will make them worth the purchase.

And that’s it. Readers, what would you add? I’d love to hear.

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If this post tickles your fancy, you might also want to peruse:

• 10 Ways to Eat Less Meat
• 156 Cheap, Healthy Recipe Ideas for Ten Common Leftover Herbs
• Cheap, Healthy Zucchini and Eggplant: 134 Recipes

This week’s question comes from Canadian reader Kathleen. She asks:

Q: I am in the process of signing up for my first CSA share and was struck by the lack of discussions about CSAs on the internet - except for farm websites, and CSA networks for farmers. Im new to the whole eat-local scene, not mega-rich by any stretch of the imagination, and am wondering what kind of risk I am taking investing in one farm for all my veg for this coming season.

Generally, Im just wondering if you had any thoughts, ideas, reviews, cautionary tales, etc., on community supported agriculture.

A: Thanks for writing, Kathleen! Though I’ve never joined a CSA, our own Leigh was part of one in 2008. That summer, she created a lot of her recipes based on its bounty, and talks a little about her first trip here.

Beyond that, sweet readers, this one is all you. Have you ever signed up for a CSA? How did it go? Would you do it again? What did you do with all that kale? The comment section is wide open.

Want to ask the interweb a question? Post one in the comment section, or write to Cheaphealthygood@gmail.com. Then, tune in next Tuesday for an answer/several answers from the good people of the World Wide Net.

Top 5 Treats To Add To Your Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids

Children love snacks but can often get choosy when it comes to healthy snacks. Babies usually enjoy greasy snacks like salted chips and chocolates, after which they never eat healthy nourishing foods. Unhealthy eating habits require to be broken, and babies might require assistance in doing so. Healthy kiddy snacks must be readily obtainable to discourage consumption of foods with no nutritional value. Getting healthy snacks on the menu is essential for developing healthy lunch ideas for school.

Some babies often take healthy eating habits from parents and pay attention to their growth and health. Most babies, however, do not care about the nutritional value of foods in the case of snacks. For fast and straightforward treats here are some nourishing ideas that you can add to your babies healthy lunch:

Fresh Fruit

Babies love fruits when properly peeled and sliced for them. You can always have a variety of fresh cut fruit for your small ones, some which they have never tried. Even the pickiest kid will love a variety of fruit when introduced to them tidy and sliced. When going grocery shopping, take the babies along and let them select their favourite fruits. Babies love chocolate treats, chocolate dipped fruits can be a great compromise. Included some fresh fruit in your kids lunch box is a must.

Milk Shakes

Milkshakes and smoothies are the top drinks that are both healthy and widely known amongst babies. Smoothies can be prepared within seconds by blending together yogurt, low overweight milk and fresh fruit of choice. It is always lovely to get babies involved when making milk shakes and smoothies, they love the prospect of preparing their own snacks. Receive a container which will guarantee no spills and let your babies take their smoothies to school.

Veggies

A great idea is to have your babies plant a garden filled with veggies. In fact babies are more likely to eat vegetables in the event that they grow themselves. You also get to spend quality time along with your babies and teach them not only gardening but also the nutritional importance of different vegetables. When picked from the veggie garden, prepare a choice of veggies with hummus or peanut butter as a snack.

Replace Chips

Granola bars, pretzels and whole wheat crackers are a lot healthier than other snacks that babies eat. Cereals can be coupled with nuts, raisins or other dried fruits to generate a new snack for the babies letting them eat chips with harmful content. These are also simple to fit in to a lunch box.

When in doubt... Juice It!

When babies dig their heels in and wont eat fruits and vegetables as snacks, you can use juices to make sure they get the necessary healthy nutrition necessary for growth. Blend fresh fruit and tasteless veggies like broccoli or spinach and come up with a homemade juice, which will certainly get their attention. You can also add a small fruit yogurt and ice to make slush out of it.

Tempting babies to eat healthy can be challenging in the event that they are liable to junk food snacks. By following these healthy lunch ideas and promoting positive eating habits at home, your babies will take lovely habits to school and learn to make healthy decisions on their own.