Healthier summer recipes and low-fat ideas for Diets and weight loss
I thought I would share some of my favourite healthier summer recipes with you.
These should give you some great summer dinner ideas if you have got your garden summer-ready now and want to enjoy it with a meal outside or a BBQ.
What do we want?
If you are anything like me in the summer you want cooler food and things that can be eaten well outside maybe with a glass of wine or for a BBQ with friends.
Healthy summer dinner recipes can be hard to find but these should help.
If you follow Slimming World, Weight Watchers (WW), Noom or any other weight loss plan you can usually count the ingredients within these recipes in your allowances. It is of course important to check any plan you follow and remember all nutritional information and ingredients are found in the recipe cards.
Salads are great for summer dinner ideas but we don’t want to feel that’s our only choice, do we?
Here are some unofficial Slimming World summer recipes I have enjoyed that may help you with some ideas for a healthy summer.
Planning summer
To ensure you stay on plan for the summer the best way is by meal planning.
Not only is this cheaper and helps you to financially plan for the summer holidays but also means you have more money spare for holidays and will lose weight too.
Summer recipes – Savoury dinner ideas
Caribbean Rice
Fruity savoury rice is vegetarian, great for a picnic and popular with everyone. It would make a great accompaniment to a BBQ or maybe to take to a buffet as your contribution.
Jerk Chicken
If you are vegetarian this Jerk chicken can be made with Quorn also with a slight adaption in the recipe. An easy chicken dish that is great either hot or cold in a salad.
Garlic dip
If you are having a BBQ or maybe just eating in the garden and fancying some garlic mayonnaise then this garlic dip may be perfect. Whilst it doesn’t taste like mayonnaise you could find this the perfect swap.
Slow cooker stuffed peppers
These slow cooked stuffed peppers are easy to make and serve when you are ready after an afternoon in the garden!
Spicy Potatoes
Sometimes when you are trying to decide what to have for tea you just don’t fancy the usual boiled rice, pasta or potatoes. This recipe for spicy potatoes may be just what you are looking for. Check out my potato guide for more potato recipes you might like.
Mediterranean Vegetable Lasagne
Great with a salad, vegetarian and full of flavour. This vegetable lasagne is so good even meat-eaters will love it! Pop a handful of salad with it and you have a great summery meal.
Curry Loaf
This curry loaf is lovely as a snack in the fridge or perhaps for a picnic. Quick and easy to make and popular with everyone!
Roasted red pepper houmous
This tasty roasted red pepper houmous is perfect as a dip with vegetable sticks for a buffet or in a burger with some rocket or roasted vegetables.
Falafel
I absolutely love falafel for snacks, picnics or buffets all year round but especially in the summer. This falafel recipe is healthy and really easy to make. You won’t want to buy the high syn shop-bought ones again!
Tomato and mozzarella pasta salad
My favourite summer pasta salad by far is Mozzarella and tomato pasta salad, it is so easy to make and absolutely delicious.
Homemade Chips
Easy to make but my way of doing them is the best by far! Whether you make crinkle-cut chips, wedges or fries. Homemade chips are the best and so much healthier than shop-bought!
Wholesome Vegetable Couscous
Vegetarian and really tasty hot or cold this vegetable couscous is great for work lunches and picnics. Alternatively, make a bowlful for a side dish at a BBQ.
Tomato, herb and lime salsa
Salsa is a perfect addition to any summer recipe and this tomato herb and lime is yummy and of course healthy too.
Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are always such a nice dish and great as a meal themselves or with some salad. I love them in the summer so why not try them too?
Sweet Potato Cakes
These sweet potato cakes are great with burgers or chilli or just as a snack on their own. Versatile and easily adapted if you like lots of chillies or just a bit. Play around with the recipe and see what you like.
You could always add in garlic granules instead and make them garlic flavoured, just be careful you only need a little!
Sour Cream
If you are making food for a whole family and some do not like spicy foods then you need sour cream. The usual version is full of calories so try my sour cream alternative for a healthy alternative. Add some chopped chives to vary it a little if you fancy.
Sticky Chicken Salad
Sticky chicken salad is lovely summer salad that takes a few minutes to make but fills you up properly! For an alternative, you could serve a bowl of this chicken at a BBQ with salad separately.
Sweetcorn Fritter with Tomato Salsa
A family favourite healthy summer dinner recipe that is quick to make and great for a picnic or work lunch too. We love this sweetcorn fritter all summer.
Smoked salmon pasta with lemon zest
A great summer salmon pasta recipe with lemon zest to really make you feel fresh and summery.
Butternut and sweet potato veggie burgers
These taste amazing and are the perfect veggie burger option for a summer BBQ or just a healthy summer dinner recipe with some salad. You could leave the bun if you are cutting down on carbs or calories.
Coleslaw
A favourite summer recipe for BBQs and buffets this coleslaw will be popular and healthier too.
Jacket Potatoes
Jacket potatoes, or baked potatoes, whatever you call them they are great summer food. I love them so much that I even wrote you a dedicated guide of healthy fillings for them!
Mushroom Pate
This is an easy recipe for mushroom pate that is perfect for any other healthy eating diet.
Black bean burritos
A tasty healthy version of your usual burritos that all the family will love. Made in a healthy way these burritos could be perfect.
Spaghetti Primavera
Vegetarian and tasty Primavera pasta with lots of flavours but as it is not spicy it is great for all the family.
Caramelised Red Onion and Rosemary mini quiches
A great snack to keep in the fridge or take on a picnic. Delicious mini quiches, perfect for a meal or snack for all the family.
Mini pepper quiche boats
If you like a quiche but want a recipe that involves a bit of a crust then these mini pepper quiches are perfect.
Doner Kebab
If you like doner kebabs then this could be the perfect healthy summer recipe for you!
Combine it with wholemeal pitta bread for the healthiest version and salad on the side.
Bruschetta pasta salad
An easy tasty healthy bruschetta pasta salad recipe all the family will love!
Black bean and veggie quinoa burgers
A great veggie burger is full of flavour and perfect for summer BBQs and eating outside on a sunny day. Team this with a wholemeal burger bun and you have a great meal choice.
Nigerian Jollof rice
This spicy rice is amazing and if you have not yet tried it you really should. A tasty summer recipe perfect for buffets, BBQ and picnics. If you are looking for a summery lunch for work then this is great for that too.
Chicken or Tofu kebabs
Making simple kebabs with tofu or chicken is great and this recipe uses a particular brand of sauces to marinate but you can make it any way you please.
Courgette bakes with Tomato sauce
Yummy courgette bakes perfect with tomato sauce and some salad as a healthy summer meal or work lunch.
Chicken rice salad
This chicken rice salad is so easy to make and a great summer salad.
Tex Mex quinoa
This easy Tex-Mex quinoa will soon be a firm favourite.
Vegan tacos
This is a great vegan taco recipe perfect for summer.
Chicken fajitas – sheet pan fajitas
An easy way to make this family favourite sheet pan fajitas.
Homemade dips and vegetable sticks
Dips and vegetable sticks are a great snack for a party of to keep in the fridge and pick on.
Big Mac Fakeaway rice bowl
An easy fakeaway for McDonald’s fans this Big Mac bowl is easy to make and the family will love it.
Feta and roasted vegetable couscous salad
An easy and summery roasted vegetable couscous dish.
Garlic chicken kebabs
Easy healthy kebabs that are great for the BBQ.
Garden fresh salsa
A great salsa recipe to try this summer.
Spinach and pea frittata
Easy spinach and pea frittata is perfect for weight loss in the summer months.
Vietnamese Shrimp rolls
A great Vietnamese shrimp roll recipe that can be made as a starter or side with other summer recipes.
Chicken Tray Bake
This is an easy one-tray recipe with minimal washing up!
Aloo Gobi
This is a great Indian summer aloo gobi recipe to try.
Chicken lime tacos
Chicken lime tacos are perfect for a family dish to get everyone digging in and talking!
Spinach and Mushroom Frittata
Another great summer frittata recipe to try.
Turkey burgers
Turkey is well known as a lean mean so these turkey burgers are a perfect option.
Salsa Verdi
An alternative to tomato salsa, this Salsa Verdi could be perfect for you.
Veggie butterbean burgers
Making your own veggie burgers really couldn’t be easier than these butterbean burgers!
Homemade guacamole
Fancy making your own guacamole?
Roasted Plum and Sweet Potato Quinoa salad
This Roasted Plum and Sweet Potato Quinoa salad is one of my absolute favourite summery meals. It is full of flavour and so easy to make!
Courgette pasta
A great pasta dish with a creamy courgette sauce.
Roasted vegetable salad
Roasted vegetable salad is a very different take on salad, perfect to try this summer.
Tuna Poke bowls
A tuna poke bowl is a great healthy option for those who like an oriental twist on their healthy summer meals
Fakeaway KFC
Why not treat yourself to a healthier KFC with this recipe?
Hash browns
Bored of chips? Hash browns are a great alternative!
Black bean burrito bowl
A healthy burrito bowl recipe perfect for all year.
Falafel burgers
Falafel burgers are a great alternative to breadcrumb-based burgers for a healthy option.
Eggs in Ham
Eggs in Ham is an easy quick snack perfect for summer dinners.
Summer recipes – sweet ideas
Chia pudding
Chia pudding is a lovely filling chocolate dessert that is low in calories.
Vanilla baked cheesecake
If you love cheesecake you will love this vanilla baked cheesecake to add to your summer recipes.
Perfect for a party or just a family meal with one of the tasty savoury summer recipes above!
Spiced Melon Medley
This is a great way to have melon and make it a bit more fun than just a bowl of melon! If you struggle to get your kids to eat fruit then maybe this would be a good option. Get them involved in making it with you and I am sure they will love it.
Deconstructed cheesecake
For a quick cheesecake-type dessert, this is perfect. It is quick to make and fills that naughty cheesecake shape gap when you want a snack!
Sweet Banana Pots
Easy for kids to make and tasty too get them to try these sweet banana pots!
Lollies made from Sugar-Free Squash
Simple! Add some fruit to make them more fun!
Frozen Pineapple
Put a lolly stick in before freezing and you will love it.
Frozen berries
Good to nibble on or add to a drink instead of an ice cube to go with your summer dinner ideas.
Fruity Pasta Salad
This fruit pasta salad sounds weird but is absolutely lovely! Don’t knock it until you have tried it!
Frozen Yoghurt
If you freeze low-fat or fat-free yoghurts they are tasty and still as healthy. Straight forward and healthier than ice cream.
Carrot cake
Who doesn’t love carrot cake? I love it all year round but it is good for a summer party or picnic so give it a try.
Raspberry and chocolate indulgence
This raspberry and chocolate dessert is amazing for summer dinner ideas and not too bad on calories.
Healthy Summer Recipes BBQ Tips
- Marinate Quorn or a meat of your choice in your favourite spices mixed with a little fat-free natural yoghurt then put onto a skewer and BBQ for an easy summer meal idea.
- I have a full Healthy BBQ recipes guide to help.
- Use large flat mushrooms slightly cooked on the BBQ instead of bread if you want to reduce calories.
- To incorporate plenty of vegetables with your BBQ make vegetable skewers to cook on the BBQ too.
- We love Teppanyaki grills for a BBQ.
Planning for a healthy summer
If you want healthy food for a relaxing summer with lots of unofficial Slimming World summer dinner ideas where you don’t put on the pounds I have some great heatwave recipes to help.
Be sure to get out the BBQ and put rubs on meats, marinate tofu or get that charcoal in to ensure that you have a great time.
Whatever you do be sure to plan ahead because we all know that when the weather is nice no shops have BBQ foods anymore and the whole supermarket is full of people with trolleys of bread rolls and beer.
If the weather is a bit questionable there are plenty of cool summer meals to make in the air fryer to avoid putting the oven on or settling for a Mexican salad or Greek salad again!
A healthy summer means a little planning ahead to ensure you can stay on plan and still have tasty summer foods.
That way you can always save calories, points or syns for favourites, mine are healthier chocolate or Jaffa Cake gin!
If you hate meal planning then check out my summer meal plan or for cooler days my late summer/autumn plan.
If you are looking for another salad idea then this Beetroot, rocket and avocado salad looks amazing.
