Fourth of July, Cold Buffet Foods, Please...

With the sweltering heat across the southeast, reaching triple digits, it makes one wonder if eating or cooking hot foods is really a good idea.

Medically it is not! Or it is not the soundest idea we have, when our body's doing everything it can to maintain a stable cool internal temperature.

Also, Please don't eat big meals at one time because it turns up your internal heat temperature, that triggers your metabolism and causes the body's system to work even harder while digesting those foods.

In this kind of weather and even in the summer months, where heat and humidity can be our worse enemies, eating six (6) or more small meals is better for the human body's digestion system.

But ultimately staying out of the sun's direct and overwhelming heat is the best answer to staying cool.

Tips

• Stay inside at the hottest part of the day, 11:30am to 4:00pm, or even later depending
• Make water the number one liquid you consume
• Eat plenty of water saturated fruits and veges
• Wear natural fabrics like cotton that allow the skin to breathe
• When outside stay under the shade, as much as possible

I love what the Spanish cultures do, they take siestas, sleeping during the heat of the day. What a great idea!

The best thing to do is to give foods of the cold persuasion and allow people to eat, drink and be merry as they cool off in these summer hot waves.

The Fourth of July, the U.S.'s Independence Day is a huge event. It's celebrations are colossal and depending on where you are in the United States you can see some of the most phenomenal displays of fireworks marking the birth of a nation.

Hopefully we all know why the fourth is such a great opportunity to recognize the amazing works of men and women that love this land, who were instrumental in all the freedoms that we now hold dear.

We can all talk about the inconsistencies of any or all nations,but will continually come up short about our views into what makes a country awesome. But no one can ever deny that America has lead in every way possible, when it comes to giving people a great sense of freedoms.

It has always opened it's arms to welcome whoever is willing to work for a better life.

I digress.

This is about the foods that should be offered at any Fourth of July celebration. Yes, you can offer foods that are red, white and blue, the expression of patriotic decor. But when i am outside in the heat of the day enjoying the celebration of this great country, i prefer cold foods, drinks, snacks and desserts.

Cold food on a hot day is the therapeutic cure to any digestion. It is better to enjoy the cold, the frozen and the iced versions of any meals possible.

I remember when the summer was at it's worse that my mom would refuse to cook hot meals and start making her famous salads.

Cooking indoors became another form of torture.

But we know that barbecues, hot dogs, and grilled hot foods are the norm for any summer party, but in the raging heat of the summer, cold is always better.

Best things:

• Cold water
• Ice
• Popsicle
• frozen treats
• lemonade, lemon water

Mayo advisory:

If you are going to use anything with mayo, please make sure it is all set in an ice bucket when outside or better kept in a cooler. Having pails of ice or coolers spread around your party area or back yard will also make having cold foods and drinks handy, helping the hostess or host to do less work.

Fruits

• watermelon
• blueberries
• strawberries
• cantaloupe
• lemons

Frozen or iced cold is the best. Stuff like grapes are wonderful, so keep your fruit as cold as possible.

Pies

• cheesecake
• lemon meringue
• ice box

Any pie or cake, you can make using the fridge or can serve cold, or at room temperature is best. Ice cream cakes are always a hit!

Drinks

• lemonades
• flavored waters
• juice punches
• frozen drinks
• sports drinks

Salads

• potato
• coleslaw
• chicken
• macaroni
• tuna
• seafood
• Italian pasta
• Asian noodle

Personally i try to make other options that don't involve mayo, but do just remember to keep it really cool to cold, however you can.

Water vegetables

• cucumbers
• celery
• tomato
• zucchini
• radish
• sweet peppers

Soups

• gazpacho
• chilled cucumber
• tomato
• avocado soup

Other cooling ideas

• Misting fans
• ice cream
• jello fruit molds
• whipped cream
• water/ice filled coolers
• water tight containers
• relish platter, onions, tomatoes, pickles, olives, pimento,
• fruit salad

Enjoying the Fourth starts with friends, family and why we are grateful, but food is a necessary component but make your menu as palatable as possible with as much cold foods that bring pleasure as well.