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Summer will soon fade into fall, and beach days will be replaced with Breaking Bad marathons. But we're not there yet. So, before you start funneling nachos down your throat, think long and hard about how your gut is going to look to the cutie one blanket away on the sand.
Meet your saving grace: Food52. Their cooking gurus have found 10 delicious things to eat that won't make you look like a hot mess in your swim trunks (and, most importantly, out of them). Because, let's face it, your gut isn't going to dissappear on its own.
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Hippie Crispie Treats
Here's a healthy version of the Rice Krispies treats we've all got a weak spot for. In place of butter and marshmallows, these crispy bars rely on natural almond butter and maple syrup to bind them together. Go ahead—treat yourself. Get the recipe on Food52.
Zucchini Butter
You can turn zucchini into "butter," no magic involved. Grate it into fine strands, and then cook it down until it wilts into a soft, green pile. One taste of this melt-in-your-mouth dish and you'll want it eat by the spoonful. And since it's not really butter, that's totally acceptable. Get the recipe on Food52.
Vegan Summer Succotash
What makes succotash so freaking tasty is all the butter the vegetables usually swim in. But this dish subs the physique-killing butter for healthier coconut oil, so you'll feel less guilty taking a second (or third) helping. Get the recipe on Food52.
Corn Salad with Cilantro & Caramelized Onions
Corn is so good in the summer that we want to live off it alone. And would that be such a bad thing? This corn salad is light, and healthy, but it's got enough heartiness from a few pieces of pancetta to make it feel like a meal. Get the recipe on Food52.
Summer Ceviche
Buy the freshest ingredients and you won't need to add anything unhealthy to have a dish that tastes ridiculously good. This ceviche gets all its flavor from great fish, tangy lime juice, and sweet tomatoes and watermelon. Plus, no cooking means less work for you. Get the recipe on Food52.
Roasted Broccoli with Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette and Marcona Almonds
When you're trying to eat healthy, you can't avoid broccoli. Here's a trick to make eating it more pleasurable: roast it in the oven to bring out the natural sweetness, and then toss it with a smoky vinaigrette and buttery almonds. You'll be itching to dig in. Get the recipe on Food52.
Simple Fish and Corn
You don't need to fry your fish to make it dinner-worthy. Show off its fresh flavors by baking it with salt and olive oil, then dousing it with lemon right as it comes out of the oven. You'll taste the real essence of the fish, and feel better about it eating it, too. Get the recipe on Food52.
Yoghurt & Spinach Dip
Finally, a creamy dip that's not loaded with heavy ingredients. This spinach dip gets its tang and smoothness from protein-packed Greek yogurt, which means that it's both more nutritious and more flavorful than your average appetizer. Go ahead, snack away. Get the recipe on Food52.
Absurdly Addictive Asparagus
If you're going to be addicted to anything, you'd better hope it's asparagus. This recipe takes a fresh, healthy vegetable and, with help from a little bit of pancetta, transforms it into something as irresistible as potato chips. Get the recipe on Food52.
Peaches Poached with Basil
Who needs dessert when you've got fruit so sweet and ripe that it tastes like candy? Summer is the perfect time to make peaches a healthy end to your meal. Poach them until they're soft, drizzle them with basil simple syrup, and you won't miss cake and cookies. Get the recipe on Food52.
