Whether your Summer is set to include family trips, chilled out afternoons spent reading in the garden, or relentless hard work, staying happy and healthy is the foundation of success. With the upcoming months of 2023 sure to be humid and muggy, it couldn’t be more important to remain hydrated, well-fed and full of energy to seize the longer days. Here at POW Food, we’re well aware of the benefits a balanced diet can provide, with each snack and meal as important as the last. The demands of sweltering seasonal weather can build up a real appetite too - and you should never have to make compromises on flavour. Read ahead to discover an array of top nutrition tips and useful mealtime snippets, preparing you and your body for a satisfactory Summer.
Getting That Fibre Fix
There are few feelings worse than bloatedness when you’re at the mercy of the Summer heat, and upping your intake of fibre could well be a viable solution to this. Foods full of fibre can soak up water in the intestine, slowing the absorption of nutrients and increasing feelings of fullness through the day. This plant-based carbohydrate is found predominantly in wholegrains and vegan ready meals, including common snacks such as dried fruits, lentils and oats.
Not only are these foods able to cause weight loss by increasing feelings of fullness, and leading to a reduced calorie intake, particular types of fibre can help you lose weight by reducing your appetite. Studies show that increasing dietary fibre can cause weight loss by automatically reducing calorie intake. Take a look at our fibre-rich POW dishes, which are delicious, packed with nutrition, and proven to help you to maintain a healthy weight.
Keeping Active (Responsibly)
Though anyone should try to limit outdoor activity to the time when it is coolest (like morning and evening hours), having fun in the sun often involves staying active, with a brisk walk, cardio activity or creative sport. Anyone involved with such events should rest often in a shaded area, so their body has a chance to recover. As well as taking time to regain your breath and relax, staying hydrated is also a huge component of responsible fun. Fluids and POW drinks can be found within our pantry, with fruit smoothies, juices and kombucha the perfect antidote.
Your body will function best at a certain temperature range, and when you get too warm, it will need to cool off. The loss of sweat during exercise dehydrates an individual, while drinking water and other healthy fluids helps replenish the water lost by excessive sweating. If you don't get enough water, you may become dehydrated, and the combination of hot temperatures and dehydration can lead to serious heat-related illnesses. Pace yourself - as drinking a lot of liquid in one go can cause more water to pass through the body, coming out as urine without hydrating first.
Lean Protein
The importance of protein within a diet is well-established, and meat dishes from POW don’t just look the part. All of our delicious protein-rich meals are gluten and dairy free, containing no refined carbohydrates. Designed specifically by our nutritionists to support a healthy lifestyle, we use only the best ingredients from small, family-run British farms and suppliers. Whether spending your lunch break digging into our luxurious Grass-Fed Beef Bourguignon, or snacking on an absolute favourite - the Dairy Free Chicken Liver Pate - your nutrition needs are accounted for.
Lean protein in particular refers to foods that are high in protein and low in fat, with fish, dairy, and peanuts just a few examples of lean proteins. Maintaining lean muscle is important for your overall health, and consuming lean protein is also a great way to protect the lean muscle you have. Helping you to maintain lean muscle mass, our meals can help you lose weight by burning more calories - even when at rest.
Wholesome Snacking Options
One of many healthy and moreish meal box snack options from POW, soup is a staple within many healthy diets, and the various health benefits of a veggie soup are well known. An easy, quick, and tasty way to add more nutrients to your diet, our soups made with vegetable-based broths provide vitamins and minerals aplenty. Additionally, Eating soup may provide additional health benefits, including lower body weight and increased fibre and water intake - keeping added fats and calories to a minimum. Though not traditionally seen as a Summer snack, our Vegan Tomato and Chickpea Soup is a real hit.
Though fruits, vegetables and foods that contain whole grains, dairy and protein are always a good choice, the best snacks are low in sugar, fat, and salt. Support your goals and save time with our healthy, handmade frozen ready meals delivered to your doorsteps nationwide. High quality à la carte dishes are perfect for sharing too - so if you have company, we have you covered.
Treat Yourself
Desserts from POW are as luxurious as they are healthy, including the very same ingredients you would expect in indulgent treats, but without the guilty calories. We believe that what you put into your body matters, which is why everything from our luxury dairy-free brownies to our Signature Superfood Snack Box has been prepared with love. The definition of a sweet garden party treat, grab a selection box of six mixed Matcha, Chocolate Protein and Berry Rose vegan pow energy balls, made with oats, almond butter, dates and superfoods.
Quick Tips
There are plenty of ways to ensure you and your family remain happy and healthy through the Summer months, from varying your fruit and veg, to keeping things simple in the kitchen. Below are some quickfire tips to consult!
Alcohol Consumption
When it comes to how they affect the body, alcohol and extreme heat have a lot in common. These effects include: dehydration, headaches, dizziness, changes in breathing patterns, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, not to mention nausea, vomiting, and cramps. If you decide to consume alcohol in the heat, make sure to sip on it slowly - and frequently hydrate yourself with glasses of water. Don't spend too much time in the sun because you should be aware that your judgement might be impacted when intoxicated.
Rainbow Plates
Consulting the idea of ‘rainbow plates’ for your healthy lunch encourages daily consumption of colourful fruits and vegetables. Different pigments are what give plants their colour, and fruit or veg of various hues are associated with higher concentrations of particular nutrients and positive health effects. At POW, we wash our plant-based ingredients in a natural solution to remove pesticide residue, and none of our dishes contain artificial preservatives, flavours, colours, or additives.
Convenience Is Key
Convenience foods are usually loaded with calories, salt, saturated and trans fats, sugar, refined carbohydrates, additives, and preservatives, though there are plenty of practical foods to choose from which aren’t packed with nasties. Dry foods, such as whole-grain cereals, frozen and canned vegetables are advisable, while making meals and food in large batches to be frozen can really pay off over the course of the week.
POW Food Ltd: Vegan Ready Meals And Healthy Lunch Options
With 25 years of combined leadership experience in hospitality, at POW Food we specialise in luxury, healthy catering for companies within London, as well as events Nationwide. In addition, POW have created a home delivery range of gluten and dairy free, high quality chef prepared meals and dishes - which are both delicious and healthy. All the food we produce is made using the highest quality, responsibly sourced ingredients, and produced adhering to our bespoke nutritional and sustainability ethos, so you can rest assured that you’re only consuming the very best. Looking for delivery to your workplace, home or precise location? Our specialised team of chefs, nutritionists, and health and food safety partners have developed a range of game changing bespoke catering solutions that yield results - so why not contact us today? Prepare for Summer 2023 by consulting our professional and friendly team, more than happy to cater to individual requirements with meal boxes and vegan ready meals.