The struggle is real, folks. Swimsuit season is here, and if you’re anything like us, you’re still packing a few extra pounds from the cold winter months.
Instead of setting yourself up for failure with miracle juice cleanses or embracing boredom with the same salad every day, check out the lighter meal options available to you. Get these nutritionally-balanced, seasonal, varied, and tasty meals delivered right to your office.
Chicago
Yes, there is such a thing as summer. Though it may not seem like it, it’ll be here in no time! Get yourself ready for it.
Artisan Catering: Get these lemon jalapeño grilled shrimp skewers for your team lunch. Pair them with a fresh salad of tomatoes, red onions, and cucumbers, all tossed in balsamic vinaigrette.
Simply Greens: Build your own salad bar at the office. Choose from spinach, romaine, or spring mix. Then, add your own toppings – like onions, roasted red peppers, broccoli, corn, tomato, olives, cucumbers, green peppers, mushrooms, carrots, green peas, bacon bits, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, hard boiled eggs, blue cheese, feta cheese, parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, or mozzarella cheese. Toss your chosen ingredients with blue cheese, ranch, balsamic, thousand island, roasted red pepper, french, Greek, or Asian peanut dressing. Voila: custom salad, based on the veggies you like most.
Boston
This Boston winter was brutal. (Shout out to all the food vendors for braving arctic conditions to satisfy stomachs around the city.) But spring is coming soon!
Sproot: Try the Q’ayenne Quinoa, made of quinoa, black beans, carrots, spinach, green peppers, and spices.
Mother Juice: You can pick from a variety of smoothies and juices. For example, ask for the OH.EM.GEE., which is made of watermelon, pineapple, and lemon. Or try the summer-friendly Cure, which mixes beets, carrots, celery, apples, oranges, and lemons.
New York
Though not nearly as bad as Boston, New York’s winter seemed endless. The good news is that the sun is finally out! Try these healthy eats to get ready for the Hamptons, the Jersey shore, or wherever you weekend.
Asya: This vendor’s turkey meatball kofta curry is made of turkey meatballs, vegetables, quinoa, and spices. It’s hearty, while still being summer-body-friendly.
Wrapido: The grilled chicken kale bowl from this cafe includes grilled chicken, kale, steamed broccoli, raw carrots, and cabbage. Hello summer!
Washington DC
Cherry blossoms have hit their peak, and flip flops are once again out and about. Try these dishes to get ready for beach attire.
Asia 54: The sashimi sampler from here will bring fresh cuts of tuna, salmon, and whitefish to your office. It’s omega-3-filled fare that’s a win for your summer plans.
Broodjes & Bier: Order the Keukenhof salad from here, and you’ll enjoy blood and navel oranges, grapefruit, shaved fennel, and toasted almonds on spinach-romaine mix, with agave mint vinaigrette.
Austin
Try these foods to get ready for the triple digits that are coming your way.
Wholly Kebab: Get this chicken kabob wrap to get ready for summer. It includes a juicy, spiced, free-range chicken kabob served, with hummus, basmati rice, shirazi salad, and shallot/yogurt sauce. It can also be made into a rice bowl, if you prefer!
Royal Roots: You can also prep for summer with this antioxidant salad. It’s full of grilled chicken, spring mix, tomatoes, feta, dried goji berries, blueberries, cranberries, raisins, cherries, and pepita seeds – all topped with toasted coconut chips. They offer a vegetarian version too.
Seattle
Weather in Seattle is pretty unpredictable, which is why you should take some time away from potential rain, and head to the beach. These eats will get you ready for the summer months.
Thrive Cafe: Here, you can order a buddha bowl. It’s filled with steamed grains like Bhutanese red rice and quinoa. Then, walnut crumble, marinated mushrooms, kale chips, sesame ginger sauce, marinated kale, fresh organic cucumbers, garlic cilantro god sauce and a dollop of onion cashew cream.
Gaba Sushi: Check out this Gaba Bowl, made of Gaba rice and quinoa, salmon, tuna, yellowtail, seven-spiced tuna, tobiko, mango, avocado, seaweed salad, green onion, red onion, cucumber, cilantro, and sweet soy glaze. Gaba rice is sprouted rice, which contains higher levels of vitamins and enzymes. It’s actually sourced from California and grown exclusively for Gaba Sushi.
San Francisco
What’s that? You have perfect weather all year round? We in the rest of the country take solace in knowing that summer is your coldest time of year. But, if you do head outside the city for a real dose of summer and you’re looking to rock a bikini or Speedos, try these dishes.
D’Maize: Their turkey papusa is a traditional Salvadorian dish made of thick, hand-crafted organic corn tortillas, stuffed with lean ground turkey and salsa roja.
Little Vietnam: Get ready for summer with this vendor’s lotus salad. It includes Thai bird chilis, cucumbers, Asian basil, fried shallots, peanuts, and a fresh lime vinaigrette.
How are you getting ready for summer?
