Wherever you live in the US, chances are your city has already been hit with a heatwave, or two! It’s a hot one, friends. And if you live in an area that has high humidity on top of the high temperatures? Woof. So without further ado, here are some Dream Dinners approved methods to keep you and your family cool in the midst of the summer heat.
We’ve got some wonderful ideas for preparing yummy dishes without heating up the kitchen and house, but before jumping into that, how about some good old fashioned outdoor entertainment? Fresh air is good for all of us, and when it’s scorching out, you and your family can stay cool by including water games into the mix.
- Go old school by playing with water balloons! There are so many fun games to play with water balloons, including ones that don’t just involve pelting each other with the balloons. Check out this blog post for 20 water balloon games you can play with your kids.
- Most water parks and public pools won’t be open this summer or will be opening with a lot of restrictions. One way to recreate a bit of the water slide experience at home is to set up a slip and slide! There are plenty of options for purchasing one, or if you want to do it on a budget, here’s a super simple tutorial for how you can make one yourself.
- Just like water balloons, water guns don’t have to only be about aiming them at each other and going wild – there are plenty of other games and activities you can use water guns for! Here are some creative ideas to get you started.
After everyone is tuckered out from playing outside, it’s time for some sustenance! Since firing up the oven and/or stovetop doesn’t sound like the most “cool” thing to do in the heat, there are definitely other ways you can make your meals. For one, don’t forget about the outside grill, which is especially nice when your kiddos want to keep playing outside but you need to get the meal started. Our July menu has some wonderful grill-friendly meals, including French Onion Turkey Burgers on Pretzel Buns, Pacific Rim Glazed Steak with Wonton Crisps, and Buffalo Ranch Chicken with Summer Grilled Vegetables, to name a few. And apart from your Dream Dinners meals, there’s a lot more to make with a grill than burgers and brats. You could make grilled pizzas, foil meals, or even put cookie sheets on the grill for a meal, instead of in the oven.
If grilling isn’t your thing, here are some inside options. First, there’s the current trend of cooking with an air fryer, or the tried and true Instant Pot, both of which can be used inside but without heating up the entire kitchen. There are also recipes that don’t require any heat or cooking, like gazpacho and hearty salads. Here’s a great compilation of no-cook recipes to inspire you. And don’t forget dessert! You can get creative and make your own popsicles, with flavors that the whole family will love, or try your hand at some no-bake cookies.
Do you have some ideas, for either inside or outside, that we didn’t mention? We’d love to hear them! Let us know your tricks to stay cool this summer, by commenting on a post or sending us a direct message, via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Whatever you do, we hope that you and your family are staying hydrated while enduring the heat and that you’re all staying safe!