Easy Summer Cooking for Stress Relief

The last few months have been more stressful than many other times in my life. The dramatic change in schedule for me and my kids took quite some time to adjust to and we still aren’t quite adjusted! But one of the ways to keep stress a little lower is some meal planning. Each new season allows for a new way to look at cooking.

As the weather has gotten warmer, I’ve been looking for recipes that are quicker and don’t heat up the house. Since having some more time, accessing local foods have been easier to procure. Local fruits, vegetables and animal foods have more nutrients because they aren’t traveling across the country. Connecting with local farmers also help relieve stress by forming new relationships with those that grow food.

Personally, I use Spiral Path Farm for a weekly box of produce and get a monthly delivery in the mail of local pork and beef from North Mountain Pastures. By already paying for these local foods, I am more motivated to eat more veggies and cook from my freezer. This also aids in meal planning for the week. Each Sunday I write up a meal plan for dinners even through the summer. I seem to have less time to cook in the summer so I utilize my slow cooker or grill.

My stress relief plan for the summer includes lots of outdoor time and having a plan for supper each day. The evening meal also allows for easy lunches the next day. Using the grill or slow cooker also creates less dishes, another stress relief win! The outdoor time allows for some good vitamin D from sunshine and connection to the earth. Both great stress relievers!

Enjoy these easy summer recipes that include some summer foods such as blueberries, kale and pork ribs. Happy cooking!