The children are sweating, you are sweating, even the houseplants are sweating.  Sweat less with these easy breezy dinner component ideas for a sweltering, volcanic family dinner night!  

1. Frozen peas.  Have you eaten a frozen pea lately?  It’s a little frozen bite of heaven when it’s hot out.  My kids eat these by the truckload, and they’re peas!! Vegetables!!  Truly a Christmas in July miracle.
2. Charcuterie spread. Look there’s no rule charcuterie plates are only acceptable meals at the pub.  Roll up some lil cold deli meats, throw some cool sliced cheese on a tray, dump out a dollop of pitted olives (you never know, maybe they’ll eat one, maybe even two!!) and watch them (and yourself) go to town.
3. Gazpacho — silly rabbit, gazpacho’s for kids!!  Okay okay, this might…not be a crowd pleaser. But you never know!  
4. Popsicles.  Look. Dinner is a losing battle you just have to lose sometimes.
5. Tomato sandwiches. Just tomato, mayo and bread, the way the good lord intended. My kids love to pick the tomatoes in preparation so that’s handy, too.
6. Or if you’re feeling in the mood for a tea party, why not cucumber sandwiches? Be extra fancy with cream cheese, dill and cucumber finger sandwiches and iced tea to wash it all down.  
7. Corn dogs to eat on the porch where it’s cooler, oh my god is the AC even working???
8. Corn dogs inside, it’s too hot out on the porch, someone find a fan
9. Maybe some soup?
10. No.  It’s too hot for soup.
11. Green smoothies for every meal forever!!!
12. Okay okay we need to eat some real food, think self think
13. Pizza?  No. Too hot.  Salad? We had that yesterday.  Mac and cheese? Too hot, too thick, too cheesy…….but oh.  That does sound good. I shouldn’t though, it’s mac and cheese.  Maybe if I throw some hidden spinach or something in there? Would that be weird?  But no, it’s too hot even for blue box mac and cheese!!
14. But then, at least it’s quick.  No oven heating up the house…
15. Mac and cheese it is.  Bon appetit!