40 fun summer food and fitness ideas (part two)

This month we are looking at new ways you can set yourself up for a healthy summer with fun food and fitness ideas. If you haven’t read part one, check it out now!

Part two has another 20 tips or ideas to inspire you to try something new to improve your family’s wellbeing over the next few months.

• Go bush – instead of walking your usual route around your neighbourhood, do some research and find a local bush walk. New Zealand natives provide some much-needed shade in the hottest months so it will be cooler than pounding the pavement. You can even go further afield and make a day of it. 

• A breakfast in a jar is a great option to start the day in the summer months. They can be made ahead of time and combine Te Atatu Toasted cereals with seasonal ingredients. Check out some options here. 

• Make your own keto-friendly crackers – they are a great savoury treat on their own or with your favourite topping. 

• If you have a sedentary job, it can be hard to find ways to exercise during your work day. See if you can convince your colleagues to have a walking meeting. Thrash out decisions while strolling around the streets. 

• Perfect a fruit and vegetable salsa recipe. They are light and fresh and can be spooned on grilled fish instead of butter, used as a fat-free salad dressing or eaten with corn chips instead of high calorie dips or guacamole. You can use mango, melon, strawberries, tomatoes, chilies or whatever you prefer. Add some coriander if you like the flavour and a squeeze of lime. 

• Dance your way to feeling fit and fabulous. You don’t have to wait for a night out to get your groove on. Just crank up your favourite tunes and boogie in the lounge for half an hour. Kids love an impromptu dance party too! 

• Up your salad game. More than just a side dish, salads made with flair can be the main event for lunch or dinner. We love these options from healthfood.com – Chicken, kale and strawberry salad, Roasted harissa sweet potato and salmon salad, Rainbow noodle salad with chicken and edamame and Speedy tuna niçoise. 

• Water sports are a great way to add variety to your exercise routine in the hot summer months. Swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and even water walking will help tone different areas of your body. 

• Smarten up your snacks – go for nuts and seeds or hummus with vegetables (carrot sticks, capsicum strips or celery). Replace potato chips with pea crisps or brown rice crisps. If you are a cheese addict, opt for feta – it’s full of flavour so a little goes a long way and you will eat less than if you choose cheddar, brie or camembert. 

• Dust the cobwebs off your bike and head out for a ride. Cycling is fun for all ages, it’s easy on the knees and hips, improves your circulation and is good for the environment because it get you out of the car. 

• Love green tea? Try an iced version for summer. It’s packed with antioxidants and is great enjoyed straight out of the fridge as a change from plain water. Make your own by letting hot green tea cool down, then refrigerating it. Commercial versions can be full of sugar. 

• Trying making vegetable kebabs. It’s a great way to up your vege intake and they can be cooked on the barbecue or in a grill pan. Zucchini, capsicum, mushrooms, onions and cherry tomatoes all work on a vegetable kebab. If you have leftovers, you can add them to filled rolls or pasta the next day. 

• Book lessons for something you have never tried before – surfing, golf, tennis, rock climbing, pole dancing, Pilates or martial arts might be a great new hobby. 

• Make your own dukkah – it can be enjoyed as a snack with specialty bread and olive oil. And it’s great sprinkled on chicken, fish or roast vegetables. 

• Have some low-calorie alcohol-free drinks you love in the fridge – kombucha, your favourite juice mixed with soda, or all the ingredients for a virgin Mojito. That means you can still relax with a drink at the end of the day without reaching for a wine or beer. 

• Organise your own Amazing Race. There are loads of ideas online to help you plan the route and clues and you can set it up to be suitable for adults or children or both, depending on your teams. 

• Zucchinis are in season in summer – grab them while they are cheap and make them into low-carb noodles for pasta or stir fry. 

• Make your own bliss balls. They are a great healthy snack or dessert alternative. Here’s a recipe using Te Atatu Toasted cereal. 

• Look out for fun run/walk events in your local area. There are usually loads scheduled over summer and signing up for one is a great way to stay motivated to meet your exercise goal. Most events have a variety of distances so they are a great option regardless of your age or fitness level.