WHEN the temperature spikes on a summer day, the last thing I want to do is heat up my kitchen even more.

So I'm always looking for new no-cook dishes that are healthy and refreshing on hot days. I created this sweet summer salad for a brunch, but it also serves as a tasty alternative to ice cream if you put the fruit mixture in the freezer until just slightly frozen (20 to 30 minutes) and then add the dressing and the crunchy topping just before serving.

I include cooking spray in the ingredients list because some of my readers say honey is messy to measure for recipes. But I've found that if you lightly spray the measuring spoon with cooking spray first, the honey is easy to measure because it won't stick to the spoon.

This recipe calls specifically for Grape-Nuts cereal. I tried making the salad with the store brand of this cereal, but to my taste buds, the store brand didn't have the same flavorful, toasty crunch as Grape-Nuts.

If you mix the fruit together more than 30 minutes before serving, drain it before adding the dressing because excess fruit juice dilutes the dressing too much and makes the topping soggy.

You can have a cup of my sweet summer salad for 117 calories and 1 fat gram.

KATHY'S SWEET

SUMMER SALAD

2 tablespoons honey

3 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lime juice

2 teaspoons poppy seeds

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

1 cup cubed fresh pineapple

1 cup fresh blueberries

1/2 cup fresh raspberries

1 1/2 cups cubed seedless watermelon

1/4 cup Grape-Nuts cereal

Cooking spray

In a small bowl, combine lime juice and poppy seeds. Lightly spray a measuring spoon with cooking spray and use it to add 2 tablespoons of honey to the juice mixture. Whisk until well combined. Set dressing aside.

Put berries, pineapple and watermelon in a medium bowl. Add honey dressing mixture and toss to coat. Place 1 cup of fruit salad in each of five serving dishes. Right before serving, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of Grape-Nuts over each serving.

Serves 5.

Per 1-cup serving: 117 calories, 24 carb grams, 1 protein gram, 37 mg sodium, 3.6 fiber grams, 1 fat gram, no cholesterol.

Do you have a favorite food or popular recipe that you'd like to see made healthier? Send your recipes, along with a daytime phone number, to Kathy

Manweiler at dontsaydiet@gmail.com, or mail to: Don't Say Diet, P.O. Box 780865, Wichita, KS 67278.