Putting Together Great Tasting Summer Nutrition

When it comes to getting good nutrition at this time of year, any reason to not heat up my kitchen is a good one.

During these hot summer days is when I look to the produce section of my grocery store to find some raw materials that give me different flavors and cool textures that make eating fun!

Home Meal Preparation

As our fast food lifestyles tend to keep us out of the kitchen, preparing summer food is something that can take a minimum amount of time. Probably less than it would take to run down to the local drive through and bring it back home.

All you are going to need is a few condiments, some basic kitchen utensils, and a desire to eat well.

The keys to this, as with any meal preparation, are courage and creativity! Just being willing to try something new and experiment along the way. Despite everything you have heard and seen the media present about preparing food, it is very simple and easy to do.

Nutrition Ideas

I have written about the Healthy ideas associated with eating whole foods. The fun part is that eating for Health is a very flavorful experience with all kinds of taste sensations. When we eat sweets, sours, and salty flavors all in the same meal, we are truly satisfying our brains because of the different taste receptors in our mouths being stimulated.

Along with all of the different flavors comes some really great nutrition. The whole foods provide you with the full complement of vitamins and minerals that Nature devised for that plant, fruit or vegetable.

Ever wonder why fruits and vegetables are so nutritious?

Nature likes reproduction. When a plant creates a fruit, nut, or vegetable, the seed(s) are surrounded with a tremendous amount of high energy nutrition that is designed to help that offspring to grow. When we eat that fresh produce, we receive all of those energy benefits.

But enough about the Science.

Let’s Do This

Instead of just talking about eating well, let’s give this a try.

Here is a recipe that is:

• Dead easy to prepare in just a few minutes
• Made from items you can easily find at your grocery store or farmer’s market
• Provides some refreshingly cool flavors during those hot summer months
• Can be modified to suit your tastes

Strawberry Cucumber Salad

Author: www.ohsweetbasil.com
Recipe type: Salad Cuisine: American
Prep time:  10 mins Total time:  10 mins
Serves: 1 Salad Bowl

A delicious and refreshing salad that’s perfect for spring or summer. Strawberries, cucumbers and a honey balsamic dressing.

Ingredients

1 Pint Strawberries, sliced in circles

1 Large or 2 small Cucumbers, peeled leaving occasional strips of peel on, sliced in circles

2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

2 Tablespoons Honey

Instructions

Mix the balsamic vinegar and honey in a small bowl.

Arrange the strawberries and cucumbers in a bowl, layering one slightly overlapping the other like a fan. Pour the dressing over the top.

Serving size: ½ Cup

Alternate Ideas

This is a great starter salad! Add or substitute other items to give it different flavors.

• Try sugar or Agave instead of honey
• Add basil or mint leaves to change the flavor
• For some added protein and tang, add some Feta or goat cheese
• For our non-vegan brothers and sisters, try some cubed ham

Think something else work? Cilantro maybe?

Try it!

The key is to be courageous in your experimentation and enjoy eating nutritious food!

Your body will like you for it!

It’s much easier on the emotions when one sees life as an experiment rather than a struggle for popularity.

― Criss Jami, Killosophy