Summer is nearly here, and I can’t wait for long, balmy days, trips to the beach, and tons of time outside with friends and family. When the temperature rises, I start craving light, delicious meals that celebrate the flavors of the season without sabotaging my bikini body. These twelve craveable favorites under five points apiece always hit the spot, and they’re packed with good-for-you veggies and fruits.
1. Buddha Bowl with Okra and Purple Cabbage
Buddha Bowls are the ultimate summer food, and this two-point option scores big on both taste and presentation. Full of jewel-bright bell peppers, rich purple cabbage, fragrant oyster mushrooms, and okra and topped with an easy homemade avocado and lime dressing, it’s one of my favorite things to make during the dog days of summer. Plus, it’s a good way to empty out your crisper and enjoy a superfood-packed meal.
2. Strawberry Custard Tarts
Strawberry season hits its full stride in June, and I’m all about making the most of it. These custard tarts use smart shortcut ingredients, like store-bought wonton wrappers, instant custard mix, and Jell-O, so putting them together is a snap. Plus, they’ll only set you back one Weight Watchers point per serving. Crown your tarts with plump, fresh strawberries and enjoy an easy and calorie-conscious summer treat.
3. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
I love recipes that do double-duty, pairing two of my faves into one inspired dish. This pasta salad has all of the iconic flavors of a Caesar salad, and is only three points per serving. Tender chicken breast, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and croutons rest on a bed of fusilli pasta and mixed lettuce leaves, crowned with a dollop of homemade Caesar dressing. Greek yogurt adds a silky texture without extra calories, and yellow mustard, garlic, a bit of anchovy paste, and a splash of red wine vinegar make it sing. Top it off with freshly ground black pepper, and you will have a meal to remember.
4. Watermelon Berry Salad
This salad showcases my favorite summertime fruits, like juicy, sweet watermelon, tart blueberries, and antioxidant-rich raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Plus, it only takes about ten minutes to prepare, and is zero Weight Watchers points per serving. A bit of sugar-free syrup, lemon juice, and a sprinkle of freshly-chopped mint tie it together, and lend just the right amount of sweetness to offset the berries. It also keeps well, and you can store it for up to four days in your refrigerator.
5. Crescent Roll Lemon Squares
Skip the bakery and enjoy these three-point lemon squares. They’re the best treat for your summertime sweet tooth, and you only need a handful of ingredients. Reduced-fat Pillsbury crescent rolls are a great shortcut ingredient and provide a flaky base that offsets the tart, bright lemon filling perfectly. Liquid egg whites bulk up the lemony custard without additional calories, and a sprinkle of icing sugar on top makes the presentation picnic-ready pretty.
6. Spinach Cucumber Chicken & Ranch Wraps
I like to make these three-point wraps for beach days or impromptu picnics, because they’re portable, filling, and oh-so-delicious. Flatout wraps are the M.V.P. here, keeping things light and providing a great base for perfectly-cooked shredded chicken, cool diced cucumber, vitamin-packed spinach, and ranch dressing. Just combine the chicken, veggies, and dressing, load up your wrap, and pop it into your cooler for a great meal on the go.
7. Frozen Greek Yogurt Bites
These Greek yogurt bites are the ultimate antidote to those killer ice-cream cravings. You’ll get a sweet, frosty treat for only one Weight Watchers point per serving, and none of the guilt. Start with an effortless graham cracker and butter base, then add a combination of vanilla-flavored fat-free Greek yogurt, fat-free Cool Whip, white cake mix, and some colored sprinkles. Then freeze for at least two hours, and enjoy. Each bite contains rich vanilla flavor, sweetness, and buttery graham crackers.
8. Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple Salsa
Summertime means one thing to me: firing up the grill and enjoying a wonderful al fresco meal with family. This simple, tropical pork tenderloin is just two Weight Watchers points per serving and guaranteed to transport you from your backyard to the islands. You’ll just need your pork marinated in a cup of pineapple juice, cilantro, red pepper, onion, lime juice, and fresh diced pineapples. Serve your grilled tenderloin with a generous side of the pepper and pineapple salsa for a satisfying summer meal.
9. Zero-Point Weight Watchers Jello Grapes
This recipe is my favorite hack for getting my kids to eat their fruit and enjoying an icy zero-point dessert myself. You only need two ingredients: red or green grapes and sugar-free Jell-O mix to make the magic happen. Rinse off your grapes, then carefully roll them in the powdered Jell-O before freezing for at least half an hour. You’ll get an ultra-flavorful treat that will keep for ages. I like to experiment with different Jell-O flavors all summer long.
10. Taco Pasta Salad
Whip up a batch of this four-point salad and be the belle of your next barbecue. It’s only four Weight Watcher points, easy to make, and packed with different flavors and textures for the ultimate side dish. I use fat-free turkey to keep the calories low, and whole wheat pasta for a serving of complex carbs. I also use a mixture of different-colored bell peppers for some visual interest, but you can use whatever you have on hand. Shredded iceberg lettuce, red onion, and grape tomatoes round off the veggies, and the whole thing gets mixed with Catalina dressing, reduced-fat cheddar cheese, and taco seasoning for a festive finish.
11. Peanut Butter & Jelly Pinwheels
These kid-approved PB&J pinwheels will also appeal to your inner child, and at three Weight Watcher points per serving, they’re a smart indulgence on a sunny day. You only need three ingredients and less than half an hour, too. Reduced-fat Pillsbury crescent rolls are the buttery base. Spread them with the sugar-free jam of your choice and sprinkle each with peanut butter chips. Then, bake, and sit back to enjoy a lovely little bite of nostalgia.
12. Tuna Cakes with Lemon Dill Sauce
I always love an elegant preparation, even when the weather is scorching, so this five-point meal is one of my favorite go-tos. It combines two of my favorite flavors, seafood and lemon, and adds the herbaceous hit of dill to tie it all together. Canned tuna is an economical and easy ingredient, and it truly sings when you mix in Parmesan cheese, zesty green onion, chopped basil, Italian bread crumbs, eggs, and some reduced-calorie mayonnaise. My easy lemon dill sauce uses Greek yogurt to keep the calories down, fresh lemon juice and zest, and spices.
These skinny summer favorites are the best way to showcase all of the season’s bountiful ingredients, and still fit into your fabulous summer dresses. I make them all summer long, and I’m sure that you’ll love them too.
I like most of the recipient. Thank you for sharing them.