Due to the hot weather and loss of appetite, people often rely on snacks, salads, snacks, cold drinks, fruits, or desserts as their "main course," forming a dietary habit of "side dishes taking over, main course stepping aside." However, this convenient eating habit can be harmful to the body. In summer, main courses are essential for three meals a day.
1. Indispensable Status of Main Courses
Main courses are the main source of carbohydrates needed by the body, and carbohydrates are one of the essential daily energy sources for the body. The carbohydrate reserves in the body are very limited, so they must be replenished daily through food intake. Especially in the hot summer, carbohydrates and other nutrients in the body will be lost in large quantities. If not replenished in time, muscle fatigue and weakness may occur when the carbohydrate content is low.
If the intake of main courses is insufficient for a long time, it can also lead to low blood sugar levels, causing more serious problems such as dizziness and palpitations. Over time, it can also lead to the loss of other trace elements, resulting in more serious consequences. In addition, the lack of main courses in summer can also affect normal work and study, as a low-carbohydrate diet cannot provide enough heat for the brain, leading to decreased memory and slower reaction speed. Especially in the summer when carbohydrates are lost severely, not eating main courses is akin to chronic suicide.
Therefore, it is advisable for each person to consume about 500 grams of main courses every day, accompanied by other vegetables and fruits, to achieve a reasonable dietary combination.
2. How to Eat Main Courses Well in Summer
Eating main courses well in summer includes what to eat and how to eat.
(1) Summer diet should focus on "clean and nourishing." Since it is about clean and nourishing, main courses should be selected that are rich in protein and dietary fiber, with low sugar and fat content, such as oats, rice, millet, sorghum, and other grains. At the same time, rice noodles, konjac powder, bracken powder, and other substitutes can also be used to supplement rice and noodles, in order to achieve nutritional balance and adjust the taste.
(2) Cooking methods should be light. In terms of cooking methods, main courses should be cooked lightly, and methods such as deep-frying and pan-frying are not suitable. Boiling and steaming are more suitable cooking methods. Therefore, foods like oil cakes, fried dough sticks, and pan-fried dumplings are not suitable for consumption in summer. Instead, steamed dumplings, wontons, noodles, porridge, and congee are light foods that can be paired with various fruits and potatoes, so that the main courses can be diverse while being light, and can increase appetite.
