It's hot outside. But you probably noticed that. I don't know about you, but the last thing I want to do when it's hot is spend a lot of time cooking in the kitchen. Not only does it make me uncomfortable, but it heats up the house and raises your utility bills. But you don't want to rely on fast food either.

So, here are some strategies to eat well without melting:

• Grill outdoors. The outside is already hot. And you don't need to air-condition it.
• Cook once, eat twice (or more). This works great with grilling. The grill is already hot, so why not cook up another steak or a few chicken breasts or some veggies. These grilled items can be the main ingredients in salads or sandwiches. I highly recommend my grilled chicken salad.
• Build your menus around things that don't require cooking, like salads and sandwiches and cold soups.
• Cook in the early morning and reheat quickly in the microwave. (Not optimal for flavor, but better than fast food.)
• Eat meals that require minimal cooking — like angel hair pasta (cooks very fast) tossed with chopped tomatoes, olive oil, and shredded parmesan.

What are our strategies for eating well in the heat?