Are you ready for one hot summer? Get ready because that’s what the experts are predicting for this year. While you’re busy diving into the pool or blasting your air conditioner to the max, don’t forget to eat the right foods for summer to soothe you inside and out.

Here are some of the best foods to eat this summer to help keep you cooler all around.

Watermelon

Honestly, is there anything more summery than watermelon? It’s sweet and juicy, making it the perfect refreshing treat on a hot day. Chill it down in your fridge and then scoop it into balls or slice it up. Want an even cooler treat? Take scooped balls of watermelon and put it into your freezer. You’ll forget about high-calorie ice cream!

Cool cucumber salads

Who wants to spend time in the kitchen sweating it out with a hot oven running over standing over the stove? A cucumber salad is the perfect way to have a nutritious and delicious side that everyone will love. Give it a Greek, Asian, or even Italian spin for a winning combination of flavors.

Sweet summer fruits and berries

Berries are in season in summer, making them the affordable superfood. You can top them onto your yogurt or your desserts, though enjoying them fresh on their own is just as rewarding. You can also fill up your watermelon with a bounty of berries for a summer fruit salad everyone will love. Try it with cantaloupe or honeydew too.

Aloe juice

It’s just now becoming more popular in the states, but in Asian countries, drinking aloe juice has been a common practice for quite some time. The refreshing bits of pulp make it fun to drink. Serve it chilled for a refreshing drink that helps keep you hydrated and tastes great!

Coconuts

You don’t need to crack open a coconut to reap the benefits of them. Try drinking coconut water or using unsweetened shreds of coconut in your cooking from salads to desserts for an added boost of tropical taste that will keep you healthy. It adds a bit of texture as well, so you may want to go ahead and sprinkle it onto your fruit salad too.

Summer foods like these help bring out the best in your health and add a cooling element to the table. Serve them alongside sandwiches at a picnic in the park or make them the side dish staples at your next backyard barbecue. How will you use these foods to make your summer cooler?