I need some help with summer eating and hydration. I tend to neglect water (in the large amount I should be drinking, anyway) and do not like to drink much diet or artificially flavored items. I notice a LOT more swelling now that the heat is on for summer and am wondering about ideas for "liquidy" foods. I have been using a certain powder for breakfast and sometimes lunch and would be happy to hear variations on that. It has become my favorite meal(s) of the day, but only fills me up for a couple of hours. I then end up chowing on "bars" which, although they are advertised as diet food, probably should not be a staple in my diet!

Any thoughts for cold, refreshing summer recipes? "Shake" recipes are also welcome. I just read about the frozen banana trick, so I will try that this week. I have been adding peanut butter to smoothies, but it adds a lot of calories - especially if I also use yogurt.

Lastly - dish on the spinach. Does one need to have a special food processor or blender to include spinach in a smoothy? I am struggling to imagine drinking such a thing . . .

Personally, I'd always stay away from powders and supplements. Real, fresh food is always best! I've been cutting down on calories over the summer by wrapping up my salads and proteins in rice paper wraps. Not only are the really cheap and only 3 calories per wrap, but they're really fun and easy to use. You just sit one in warm water for a few minutes to soften, take it out, let it drip for a few seconds, then lie flat on a plate or board. Fill with yummy things in a line down the centre, leaving a little but of the wrap at one end empty. Fold this end up first, to create a base, then pull the sides over, nice and taught, to create a sausage shaped wrap. The rice paper is very stretchy, so make sure it's wrapped tight or it'll fall apart in your hands.

Thanks for the rice wrap idea! I agree with the 'real food' vs shakes - you'll find that if you eat a lot of fruit and veg they have a high water content so will help keep you hydrated - cucumber is a prime example!

I swear by cucumbers and melon in the summer for helping with my water retention. I get visibly puffy from sodium and heat. I keep sliced cukes and cut up melon in my fridge all the time.

I LOVE zucchini.....and i believe it is also considered a dieuretic (sp)

Thank you for the feedback. I love the rice paper and cucumber/melon ideas!

Same here, I love the ideas presented: rice paper, melon cucumbers and zuchinni! Thanks!