Summer is peak season for all things delicious, and that can mean an awful lot of “treating yourself” with sugary snacks. Of course, you deserve to #TreatYoSelf whenever and however you want, but in the name of balance, here are a few sugar-free ideas to keep your bodies healthy and happy. These dishes are all nutrient dense, full of flavour and low sugar (and they’re not all salads!). You’ll love every guilt-free bite!

Fraiche Nutrition | Cedar Plank Salmon Burgers

Tori Wesszer, an Okanagan-raised registered dietician, is a true expert on healthy eating! Her recipes are seasonally inspired, family-friendly and fun, but they all make healthy ingredients a priority. This recipe for Salmon Burgers is no exception: it’s easy to do, full of flavours and completely customizable!  Who doesn’t love a burger on a hot summer’s day? Find the recipe here.

Eat to Thrive | Banana Raspberry Nice Cream

Anna, from the Sunshine Coast, shows off her organic plant-based recipes on her Instagram @eat_to_thrive, and her posts are so beautiful you’ll be craving fruits and veggies! This recipe for Banana Raspberry “Nice” Cream (gluten free, dairy free and vegan) contains just frozen bananas and frozen raspberries. It doesn’t get any simpler than that! Toss them into a food processor or blender until smooth, and you have a homemade cool treat perfect for summer nights.

The Kitchn | Watermelon Couscous Salad

If you didn’t already know, The Kitchn is a web-based food magazine that embraces everything kitchen-related (particularly, food!).  This recipe for Minted Summer Couscous with Watermelon and Feta utilizes a ton of inexpensive and seasonal ingredients. It’s the perfect dish for using up that mint that’s growing like a weed in your backyard, or the watermelon sitting in your fridge. The crisp, fresh flavours are perfect for a light lunch on a hot day, and it would make a great potluck salad too!

Donna Hay | Chicken Skewers with Chimichurri and Quinoa Salad

Donna Hay is like the Martha Stewart of Australia, so it’s no surprise her recipes are always top-quality. This easy dinner of Chicken Skewers with Chimichurri is full of healthy ingredients, but will not be short on flavour. The spices in the chicken marinade combined with the bright herbs in the Chimichurri sauce (a traditional Argentinian condiment) will be the perfect combination to keep your taste buds excited.

Jamie Oliver | Steak Burritos

The beloved “Naked Chef’s” recipes reflect his true passion for healthy cooking. These steak burritos are not only sugar-free, but guaranteed to get you on your way to your “5-a day” servings of fruit and veggies. If you’re not into beef, you can always sub in your favourite protein, or just keep it simple with the protein-packed black beans in the recipe!

Easy Flatbread | by yours truly @thetreatlife!

This recipe for flatbread can’t get any simpler. I love it because you can customize it however you like with what’s in season, and almost any combination goes! I like using cherry tomatoes, goat cheese and caramelized onions, but you could do mozzarella and rosemary, or spinach and olive, or salmon capers and dill! Whatever floats your boat really.

Here’s the recipe:

1 box frozen puff pastry, thawed

Olive oil

Desired toppings (cheese, vegetables, herbs, etc)

Roll out the thawed puff pastry (best to do thaw it in the fridge the night before you need it) until it’s just a bit smaller than your standard baking sheet. Place the rolled out dough onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, and then add your toppings, leaving a 1-2cm border on the dough. Don’t pile your toppings too high though, or your dough might not cook all the way through.

Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the crust is golden and your cheese (if using) is melted and bubbly! Usually about 15-20 minutes. Top with fresh greens like arugula, honey or balsamic reduction if you like, and your flatbread is done!

Kelowna born and raised, Keddy Pavlik of TheTreatLife has been passionate about the local food scene basically since birth. If she's not in the kitchen, you can probably find her at the farmer's market or taking pictures of food. Photo Credit: Jordana Dickson.