Quick and Easy Summer Meal Ideas for Athletes

It’s summertime and the living’s easy! Yeah right! The days are longer, but chances are you are not thinking about your grocery list and what’s on it. Here are some of Marc and Carly’s best ideas to keep you satisfied, while not breaking the bank. Because let’s be honest, you’d rather be sitting by the pool sipping a drink rather than thinking about what you’re cooking for dinner.

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5 Dinner Ideas for Summer Nights

Dinner option # 1

For those super hot nights when you want to eat outside – a packed salad.

This is one of our faves to throw together. Add some cooked quinoa will make it even more filling.

Ingredients:

• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Cashews
• Goat cheese/Wet Mozzarella (your choice – both fit nicely!)
• Cucumbers
• Avocado
• 1 cup cooked Quinoa (optional)
• Your favorite vinaigrette (optional)

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Dinner option # 2

For those nights when you’ve spent all day at the pool and want a quick, but delicious meal – an easy crockpot night + quick cornbread and a pre-made salad.

Ingredients:

BBQ Chicken recipe:

• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

The recipe can be found here

Instructions:

1. Cover and cook on low for 3-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours. (If using boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cook for 5-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.)
2. Check that chicken has reached an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F. Shred chicken.

Cornbread (follow instructions) 

Bag of salad (I love these premixed salads! Though check the nutrition label and make sure you are getting a healthy one.)

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Dinner option # 3

For when you’re in need of a quick, tasty, and vegan meal – a ramen noodle salad. The recipe can be found here

Ingredients:

Ramen Noodle Salad

• 1 pack (8oz) ramen noodles cooked, just slightly al dente (I used non-fried brown rice ramen but you can use any kind you would like)
• 3 cups red cabbage shredded
• 1 cup carrot grated
• 5 scallion stalks sliced
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds

Dressing

• 3 TB warm water
• 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter (room temp peanut butter makes it easier to whisk)
• 1/2 lime juiced
• 3 TB apple cider vinegar
• 2 TB maple syrup
• 2 TB tamari or soy sauce if not gluten-free
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder

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Dinner option # 4

For when all you want to do is be outside grilling – burgers, sweet potato fries and coleslaw.

Burger recipe found here. Also, when I’m grilling I never grill without my copper sheets. Have you ever tried these? They are AMAZING!

Ingredients:

For Onions

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large sweet onion
• salt & pepper
• ¼ cup MUSSELMAN’S® Apple Butter

For Burgers

• 1 pound ground chicken (or pork)
• ¼ cup MUSSELMAN’S® Apple Butter
• ¼ cup bread crumbs
• 2 Tablespoons cilantro, minced (we did not use)
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• salt & pepper
• 1 cup smoked Gouda cheese, grated (we used slices)
• 4 hamburger buns (or 6 slider buns)

Pre Cut Sweet Potato wedges and packaged coleslaw makes for an easy meal!

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Dinner option # 5 

For when you’re craving some delicious pasta and veggies – ravioli in pink vodka sauce with broccoli and a bagged salad

• Bagged salad of your choice
• One bunch broccoli 
• Pink vodka sauce
• Ravioli

By the way, have you tried Trader Joe’s Roasted Cauliflower Raviolis? They are really, freakin’ good.

Directions: Follow the packaging directions. We like to add the chopped broccoli to the last 2 minutes of cooking time for the ravioli and drain together to save time and a pot to clean.

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There you go! 5 of the quickest and tastiest meals we have rotating through our busy summer schedule. When we don’t feel like cooking a hefty meal, these are our go-to ideas to not only keep it healthy, but keep it easy.

In need of some really quick and delicious dinner ideas? Oh yeah, and they’re also healthy and good for you. Check these out the #TrainwithMarc blog!

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