Tomorrow will enter the midsummer days, remember: eat 2 grains, consume 3 varieties of vegetables, avoid 2 things, take care of your body, and prepare for the coming autumn!
Tomorrow will enter the midsummer days. Midsummer is the second phase of the three midsummer days. This year, it will last for a full 20 days, which should be the hottest period of the year. It is a time when you feel like you are in a continuous sauna. During this time, the sun shines intensely, heating the ground, making everyone too scared to go out. Sometimes there are thunderstorms, turning rural paths into streams. People can only stay at home without doing anything, yet still sweat profusely. Describing this period’s climate as a mix of damp heat accurately reflects the conditions. Hence, everyone says this time is the toughest period of the year.
Due to the sticky and oppressive weather during midsummer, the body regulates its temperature by continuous sweating. Therefore, it is essential to keep up with the body’s nutrition during this period. The diet should focus on cooling and damp-expelling foods. However, due to people’s frequent use of air conditioning and consumption of cold drinks, cold air may enter the body. It is essential to also pay attention to nourishing yang, dispelling cold, and adjusting the spleen and stomach to maintain good health and prepare for autumn. Therefore, remember our diet recommendations: eat 2 grains, consume 3 varieties of vegetables, avoid 2 things. What specifically should you do? Let’s continue reading.
1. Eat 2 grains – Coix seed, corn.
Coix seed:
As we all know, coix seed has the effect of dispelling dampness and protecting the spleen and stomach. Consuming coix seed to some extent can assist in alleviating discomfort caused by excessive dampness.
Recommended dish: [Coix Seed Scallion Pancake]
Main ingredients: coix seed, flour, eggs.
Seasonings: scallions, salt, Chinese five-spice powder, cooking oil.
Preparation steps: 1. Wash and soak coix seeds, then blend with water to form a paste. Clean the scallions, chop them, and mix with some flour, salt, Chinese five-spice powder, and warm oil until well combined.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour and eggs, then add the coix seed paste. Knead into a dough and let it rest for 10 minutes. Roll out the dough on a board, add the scallion mixture, and roll it up. Cut into equal strips, flatten, and roll out again.
3. Preheat an electric griddle, brush with oil, place the pancake on the griddle, brush with oil, cover, and cook over low heat for five minutes. Flip, cook for three more minutes until both sides are golden brown, then serve.
Corn:
Corn is considered a golden food among cereals, rich in carbohydrates, protein, various vitamins, and minerals. It contains high levels of vitamins compared to rice and wheat, up to 5 to 10 times, with abundant dietary fiber. It helps with intestines, vision, disease prevention, beauty, and anti-aging.
Recommended dish: [Cucumber Shrimp Corn Kernels]
Main ingredients: cucumber, shrimp, corn, carrots.
Seasonings: cooking oil, salt, scallions, ginger, rice wine.
Preparation steps: 1. Wash and cut the cucumber and carrots into small pieces. Peel the corn and prepare the shrimp by marinating with scallions, ginger, rice wine, and salt.
2. Heat oil in a pan, stir-fry corn, carrots, and cucumber until half-cooked, set aside. In the same pan, add more oil, stir-fry the shrimp until cooked, then add the cooked vegetables.
3. Season with salt, add a little water, bring to a boil, thicken with water and starch mixture, then serve hot.
2. Consume 3 varieties of vegetables – Winter melon, Chinese yam, green peppers.
Winter melon:
Winter melon is rich in protein, water, vitamins, and trace elements, with high potassium levels. It helps eliminate dampness and diuresis, assisting in maintaining electrolyte balance during sweating in midsummer.
Recommended dish: [Winter Melon Pork Rib Soup]
Main ingredients: winter melon, pork ribs.
Seasonings: salt, scallions, ginger, rice wine.
Preparation steps: 1. Soak the ribs to remove blood, then cook with scallions, ginger, and rice wine. Simmer until the meat is tender.
2. Peel and chop the winter melon once the meat is tender. Add it to the pot, bring to a boil, simmer for an additional 3 minutes, season with salt, and let it rest before serving.
Chinese yam:
During midsummer, many people have poor appetite. Consuming Chinese yam can help invigorate the spleen and stomach, and tonify the qi and kidneys. Eating Chinese yam in midsummer can relieve decreased appetite. Additionally, Chinese yam is a warm-toned food that replenishes yang and boosts immunity.
Recommended dish: [Chinese Yam Stir-fry with Wood Ear and Pork Slices]
Main ingredients: Chinese yam, wood ear mushrooms, pork.
Seasonings: salt, cooking oil, scallions, ginger, rice wine, cornstarch.
Preparation steps: 1. Soak wood ear mushrooms in water, then blanch and clean them. Slice the pork and marinate with salt and cornstarch. Slice the peeled Chinese yam and soak in water to prevent oxidation.
2. Heat oil in a pan, stir-fry the pork until it changes color, then add scallions, ginger, and rice wine. Add the wood ear mushrooms and yam slices.
3. Cook until the yam is tender, then add water, salt, stir-fry, then serve.
Green peppers:
Green peppers, also known as sweet peppers or bell peppers, come in various colors like red, yellow, and green. They are mildly spicy or even non-spicy and are often used as vegetables. Green peppers are highly nutritious, with benefits such as dispersing cold and dampness, promoting appetite, reducing fat, and aiding weight loss. However, they are rarely standalone dishes and are mostly used as side dishes.
Recommended dish: [Green Pepper Stir-fried Tofu]
Main ingredients: tofu, green peppers.
Seasonings: chili sauce, oyster sauce, salt, Sichuan peppercorn powder, vegetable oil, chicken granules.
Preparation steps: 1. Wash and slice tofu, then pan-fry until golden. Add chili sauce and sauté, then add oyster sauce, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and water. Bring to a boil.
2. Add the green pepper strips and stir-fry until well mixed. Season with salt, cook until it boils, then add chicken granules and stir fry before serving.
Avoid 2 things – Avoid poorly ventilated rooms, avoid skipping afternoon naps.
Avoid poorly ventilated rooms:
In daily life during summer, many people keep the air conditioner on all day and stay indoors with windows and doors closed, fearing heat or cold air. This practice is incorrect. It is essential to maintain good health by opening windows frequently and ensuring indoor air circulation to reduce the risk of heatstroke.
Avoid skipping afternoon naps:
During summer when days are longer than nights, our sleep time is reduced. Taking an afternoon nap is beneficial, even if it’s just for half an hour at a desk. Avoiding afternoon naps while sleeping less at night is detrimental to health.
This concludes the dietary cautions after entering the midsummer days. Friends, do you have any other tips for the midsummer days? Feel free to leave comments in the comment section to share with others. Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more culinary updates. If you found this helpful, give it a like, share it to reach more people, and don’t forget to follow for more content. See you tomorrow!
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