Yeeesss! Summer. I love the warmer weather, swimming, and long active days, but what I crave more than anything is all of the delicious fresh food! Summer is such a wonderful time to eat healthy, the fruit and vegetables are in season, less expensive and more delicious.
If you have a knife, a touch of olive oil and some salt and pepper, you’re good to go. With all of this fresh produce available, it’s a great time to start or continue good eating habits. I better not see you in the frozen food aisle this time if year; let’s take a look at what’s fresh and delicious!
Oh the Berries!
“Are you going to have a little cereal with those blueberries,” is what I hear most mornings in the summer when those $5 tiny trays of berries are replaced by much larger, cheaper containers. Berries are super-food, they are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. When they are in abundance I take full advantage and eat them every day. Have them on your morning bowl of cereal, as a tasty treat with lunch, or for a healthy dessert after dinner. Skip the high fat alternatives, a bowl of strawberries and blueberries with a touch of [easyazon-link asin=”B002XULCB6″]low-fat whipped cream[/easyazon-link] on top is as good as it gets.
Fire up the Grill
The grill is a wonderful way to cook food and it’s actually a very healthy way to cook your food. Of course grilled chicken, fish or lean meat is absolutely fantastic, but the vegetable medley is out of this world. I really love the grill-ready metal vegetable trays. If you’re not familiar, it is a metal tray with handles that keeps all of your veggies in one place instead of falling through the cracks. Cut up slices of peppers, zucchini, onions, and asparagus. Mix together in a bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper and then dump onto your grill tray. Another grill favorite and a fun presentation are skewers. Cut up cubed chunks of whichever meat you like or go without meat and add those to the skewer with onion, peppers, and whichever veggies you like. Remember to soak your skewers before you put them on the grill so they don’t burn up!
Farmers Markets
It’s the time of year when the farmers come into town, say hello, and offer up wonderful produce. It’s a wonderful time to get outside and head outside to buy your produce. Buying local is the most green thing you can do and your most direction connection to farm fresh food and produce. Remember not to be too picky, the food we are accustomed to at the grocery store is so perfect looking it alters our perspective. You don’t want to buy produce that looks wilted or spoiled, but slight imperfections are no big deal. Farmers market favorites of mine are fresh lettuce, tomatoes, swiss chard, spinach and corn. Ohhh the corn! For 1 month each year I enjoy as much delicious corn as I can.
Picnic
Remember what it’s like to have a good old-fashioned picnic? Head to the local park or your friend’s house with a big backyard for some good times with friends and family. [easyazon-link asin=”B000GYWX96″]Bring games to your picnic[/easyazon-link], it’s a great time to work up an appetite or work one off. Go all out and you’ll be happy; bring blankets, tablecloth, and a cooler of delicious food and drinks and have a wonderful time!
Cooper Elling is passionate about food, fitness & blogging. When he’s not having fun, he writes about Smartlipo, hacky sack, cooking and a myriad of other topics.
