What I’m Eating this Summer

With hot steamy days ahead, we have to plan so that eating well doesn’t fall by the wayside. And while I love to make most of my foods from scratch, summer weather can have even the most intrepid home cook looking for ways to make life easier.

Actual Veggies

When I don’t make them from scratch, I turn to Actual Veggies Black Bean Burgers https://actualveggies.com/  to satisfy that itch for a burger at a cookout.

Tofurkey

For lovely Italian vegan sausage and peppers on the buffet table, I will always turn to Tofurkey Italian Sausage https://tofurky.com/ with Abbort’s Butcher https://abbots.com/ for groovy plant based version of chorizo for those spicy dishes we crave.

Kite Hill

And what’s a party without creamy dips? I love the taste and texture of Kite Hill https://kite-hill.com/ for frostings, dressings and the fact that all the products are almond-based, which feels more balanced to me.

Just Egg

I love an eggless frittata on a hot summer day for breakfast or lunch and that’s where Just Egg https://www.ju.st/ for the texture, protein and satisfaction I want from this Italian classic.

Sodastream and La Croix

When the days are steamy, nothing quenches me like sparkling water. Most days, I use my Sodastream https://sodastream.com/ in order to satisfy my thirst in the most sustainable way, but when I am out and about, I’ll turn to La Croix sparkling water https://www.lacroixwater.com/ and simply recycle the can.

Oatly and Breyers

Summer snacks can vary from super healthy to junk. We try to stay with the things that serve us best but still feel indulgent, like vegan ice cream. Not a fan of coconut milk (actually, my tummy is not a fan), we turn to oat milk-based versions like Oatly https://www.oatly.com/en-us/products/frozen-dessert or the surprisingly wildly yummy Breyer’s https://www.breyers.com/ non-dairy ice creams.

Melissa’s and Sunset

Always loaded up on produce, we rely on fresh fruit and veggies all summer long and yes, even here, I look for brands I love (after farmers’ markets and locally grown produce, of course) like Melissa’s https://www.melissas.com/ or Sunset https://www.sunsetgrown.com/the-sunset-difference/ for the freshness we want.

Bob’s Red Mill, Jovial, Eden

Summer in our house means lots of fresh foods but also quick cooking so I tend to use whole grains like farro and quinoa from Bob’s Red Mill https://www.bobsredmill.com/ and canned or jarred organic beans from Eden Foods https://store.edenfoods.com/ and Jovial Foods https://jovialfoods.com/ (for their pasta too). There’s no need to trade quality and organics for ease and convenience. We can have both!

Simply Organic

When it comes to organic, spices and extracts, you’ll find Simply Organic https://www.simplyorganic.com/ in my pantry all the time, because yeah, I bake all summer long.

Jennie’s Coconut Bites

On those days when it’s too hot to bake, you’ll find Jennie’s Coconut Bites https://jenniesmacaroons.com/product/cacao-pouch/ in my house. I love how chewy and light they are. It’s a plus that they are gluten-free so anyone can enjoy them.

Late July, Cedars, Sabra, Ithaca, Mary’s, Blue Diamond

For those savory, before the gym, high-protein snacks, we will always grab hummus with some veggies or Late July crackers or chips https://www.latejuly.com/ Blue Diamond Almond Crackers https://www.bluediamond.com/brand/snack-almonds/ or Mary’s Gone Crackers https://www.marysgonecrackers.com/

And if I don’t make it myself, I’ll be sure to grab a tub of hummus from one of these fabulous brands: Cedars https://www.cedarsfoods.com/ or Sabra https://sabra.com/ or Ithaca https://ithacahummus.com/

Ketone IQ

And finally, fitness is essential in our lives so as the heat wears us down, I have discovered a caffeine and sugar free boost is nice sometimes before a tough session. I am loving Ketone IQ https://ketone.com/

So as summer dawns and we change our food and our cooking, these are some of my fave vegan brands when I need quick and easy products for cooking and to keep our vitality high when the heat simply wants to wilt us.

Now here’s the fun part

If you’re a brand with vegan products, get in touch to find out ways we can partner to create some summer fun; and get a free ad in my e-newsletter.

Just email us at keith@christinacooks.com