Fourth of July is right around the corner!
Which means..it’s a long weekend – WAHOO!
It also *typically* means bathing suits, beers, hot dogs, and burgers. An interesting combination, don’t you think? Who made this a thing? #bloated
In order to avoid the gut-health nightmare that is processed meat + dairy + gluten + alcohol + sugar (eeeek!), here is a refreshing + light recipe that you can bring with you to the BBQ instead.
It’s super easy, so tasty, and freaking fun to eat. The watermelon and cucumber will keep you well hydrated in that hot summer sun, while the mint keeps your tummy tame.
And of course, if end up going all in with the burgers + beer, enjoy it and move on (and maybe take a digestive enzyme).
Some other quick, gut-healthy tips for the holiday weekend:
- put your burger/hot dog/grilled chicken/etc. on a salad as opposed to in a bun. It’s a super simple swap that will keep the bloat down + the gluten away.
- pair your protein (above) with veggies + healthy fats (guacamole/avocado) to keep your blood sugar levels balanced and your brain happy.✨
- no cheese, please! Leave it off the burger, you don’t really need it.
- stay away from the chip bowls. It’s just a big downward spiral. We all know, one chip turns into like 80 chips real fast.
- choose high-quality clear liquor (like mezcal, tequila or vodka) over beer + wine. Beer and wine breed yeast big time, leaving you super bloated and potentially breaking out into a red face (me!).
- or, go alcohol-free! It’s just as cool and will make it easier to avoid the eighteen bowls of Lay’s that are out come 5pm.
- stay hydrated! so important for freakin’ hot days out in the sun all day. Aim for 2-3 liters per day.
- GO IN PREPARED! Bring the recipe below, or Massaged Kale Salad or Israeli Salad from the HAN Cookbook: Recipes for A Healthy Gut – they are total crowd-pleasers and will leave your digestion good-to-go.
MOST importantly, laugh, smile, and put your phone away! It’s a holiday – enjoy it!
Watermelon + Cucumber + Mint Granita
INGREDIENTS
- 1 small to medium watermelon, chopped and seeds discarded
- 2-3 cucumbers, peeled and chopped
- 2 limes, zested and juiced
- 1 bushel of fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced
- Optional: Himalayan salt
DIRECTIONS
- Prep all ingredients, once ready, toss all *except* for lime zest and mint leaves into a high-speed blender
- Once completely combined- test taste, you can add a sprinkling of Himalayan salt if you want the flavors to be more pronounced!
- Pour into a deep baking dish (like a brownie or bread loaf pan), and place in the freezer uncovered. Depending on the size of your watermelon/ how much puree there was as well as the intensity of your freezer, it should take 1-2 hours for the mixture to freeze.
- Once somewhat frozen (think between a slushee and ice) you can start to scrape the mixture using a fork or spoon. After scraping, place back in the freezer until more solid. You can do this up to 3 times, it just depends how icy you’d like it to be.
- Once ready to eat, scrape into dish of choice, top with mint, lime zest, and enjoy!
PS! Feel free to spike this with a little organic vodka or tequila for a little extra something, something 😉
Recipe + picture contributed by HAN’s Head Chef, Noeli Almeyda-Toledo. Check out more of her gut-healthy recipes on @consciouslycoastal.
Want over 50 dance-worthy recipes designed exclusively with your gut health in mind? Check out HAN’s new cookbook: Recipes for A Healthy Gut.
