Healthy, Tasty Summer Eating

Summer in full bloom leads many of us to think about eating a little healthier and dropping a couple of pounds for bathing suit season. The summer heat has not only brought beautiful sunny days, but it also has provided us with a season of delicious fruits and vegetables that are sure to please anyone’s palate.

Here are five tips that will allow you to enjoy the summer while watching what you eat:

1. Buy local. Not only is local food often better priced, but it also provides better vitamins and minerals. Plus, you will be supporting your local farmers. Find your local farmers market and try some of the great products they offer.

2. Cut the salt. Try seasoning your food with fresh herbs. Have you tried to grow your own herbs yet? You can find seeds at many stores and start a garden indoors or outdoors. Try rosemary, basil, chives or oregano; they're usually easy to start with and can be used to season a wide variety of foods.

3. Start grilling. Grilling is a great alternative for the summer (or winter months if you are willing to brave the weather) and can be healthy, too. Grilling is a great way to cook proteins. Not only does the food taste great, but the cooking method allows some of the excess fat to drip off.

By allowing the fat to drip off, you are consuming less fat and are left with a better tasting protein. Vegetables of all kinds are also great on the grill. Potatoes, zucchini, squash and mushrooms are some of my favorites. Don't forget that you can grill fruits, too. Pineapple, peaches and watermelon are good ones to try first.

4. Mix it up. Start incorporating a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Summer is a great time to try different things in different ways. If you don't like something new at first, try it prepared another way. There are so many amazing foods out there and hundreds of different ways to prepare them.

5. Start a garden. A garden is a great way to increase your intake of vegetables or fruit. Things can go bad in a refrigerator pretty quickly, but think of the possibilities if you could just walk out your back door to stock up.

There are a number of ways to incorporate healthy eating into your summer. For more tips, including recipes and recipe modifications, visit the Food and Nutrition Services webpage at franklinsquare.org.