With so many activities all summer, it can be hard to remember to eat a balanced diet with plenty of nutrition.
Fresh Vegetables and Fruit
The great thing about summer is the abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, many of which are locally grown. One of the best ways to get a lot of nutrients this summer is to make your meals as colorful as possible with tomatoes, blueberries, colorful bell peppers, carrots, avocados, and leafy green vegetables.
Vegetables and fruit are a nutrient powerhouse that can boost your immune system.
- Tomatoes have a lot of vitamin C, vitamin A, and lycopene. Lycopene is especially important for men as it has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
- Leafy greens like beet greens, collards, butter lettuce, and Swiss chard are full of vitamins C, A, and K, and they have more lutein than most foods, which is necessary for the health of our eyes.
- Bell peppers have a lot of vitamin C, and when you add vegetables with vitamin C to leafy greens, it helps us absorb iron.
- Berries, especially blueberries, contain antioxidants that can reduce cell damage and boosts the immune system.
And nothing says summer like fresh peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, cherries, and apricots.
Eat Light
Don’t eat a heavy meal, especially a meal with a lot of saturated fat. This causes the digestive system to work harder, which heats the body. Eat cooling foods like raw salads, cold pasta salads, bean salads, and eat less red meat.
Focus on Fish
Eating leaner sources of protein like fish is perfect for summer. Fish is a lighter meal than red meat and is an essential source of omega-3 essential fatty acid. Some of the healthiest fish are salmon, tuna, rainbow trout, and Atlantic mackerel. Wild-caught salmon is healthier than farmed salmon.
Healthy Summer Grilling Ideas
Since summer is the BBQ season, there are all kinds of healthy grilling ideas. Along with fish, try grilling vegetables. Asparagus, potatoes, zucchini, portabella mushrooms, corn on the cob, and other vegetables work great on the BBQ. Kabobs also make healthy summer meals that are easy to grill.