THE DAYS ARE finally longer and, while not always sunny, it’s the sign that summer is here at last.

Winter is a great excuse to eat hearty meals and stay inside away from the cold and dark, but come the longer, lighter days we often find ourselves paying for the privilege in the form of tighter clothes and a few extra pounds on the scale.

The road to hell is paved with great intentions and there can be no greater intention than ‘I’m going to eat better and exercise more’, nor an intention so roundly ignored mere minutes after making it.

This year it will be different, definitely. 

Rance Costa Rance Costa

It is of course much easier to slot in some exercise after work in the evenings and generally you probably don’t even feel like eating the heavier meals that you had in the winter and will naturally make a transition to lighter foods – especially if it’s hot or you’re on holidays.

To start you on the right path, here are a couple of delicious, nutritious salad ideas, but we want you to tell us – have you changed your eating habits now summer’s here? Will you?

Strawberry spinach salad

Allrecipes.com Allrecipes.com

An odd combination you’d think, but the flavours work really well together, especially with the slightly spicy vinaigrette. Here’s the recipe – let us know how you like it.

Pasta salad with roasted tomatoes

Smittenkitchen Smittenkitchen

A more filling option so could do as a meal on it’s own this is a nice flavoursome recipe – plus you get to make your own ‘sun-dried’ tomatoes.

Have your eating habits changed now that it’s summer? Are you planning on making changes? Let us know in the comments below.