5 Nutritious Eating Tips to Help You Get The Most Out of Your Summer: Part 2

Welcome back to your most nutritious summer yet. If you didn’t read part one, go read it now: here. Combine these five tips with the previous five tips for one heck of a summer. So let’s get to it!

Cool off and bump up your nutrition with popsicles. Gone are the days of freezer pops- those things in a tube you chop off the end that melt faster than you can say yum. I mean, those certainly do exist, but so do tons of other options, or better yet make your own! Not only can popsicles provide much needed relief from the heat, but you can pack them full of vitamins and minerals. Goodpop is a brand with no added sugar. If you make your own you can up your calcium intake by using yogurt, milk, or a milk alternative with the fruit of your choice. Enjoy!
Grill- everything. I wish I lived somewhere I could grill all year round, because we all know I’m not grilling in 10 degree weather. But we certainly love grilling in the summer. Plus with all the gadgets now, it’s so easy. Grill baskets to keep your veggies from falling through the cracks, flexible skewers to fit any grill, cedar planks to impart yummy flavor and keep your salmon from crumbling. Check out our blog here with some more gadgets. Grilling is a healthy way to prepare all types of food. Plus, when we grill, we grill double the amount. Then I have lots of veggies and lean protein to reuse in lunches or other dinners throughout the week.
Alcohol in moderation. Alcohol in moderation (1 drink for women or 2 drinks for men per day) can be healthy. However, drinking in excess is linked to heart disease, cancer, liver disease. Even drinking a little can lead to dehydration and interrupted sleep. So, when it comes to drinking, keep it to the limits listed above and be sure to drink a glass of water for each alcoholic beverage you consume.
Freezer fruit. Not only is it refreshing, it helps with food waste! Did you know that you can freeze your fruit if you can’t eat it before it goes bad? Plus, we already know fruit is high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water. I want to buy all the fruit in the summer, and tend to go a little overboard. Berries are in season during the summer, but so are grapes, cherries, peaches, and nectarines to name a few. These fruits freeze so well. You can eat them right as is from the freezer (frozen grapes are so good on a hot day), or save them to use them in smoothies, popsicles, and ice cream. Additionally, you can defrost them for oatmeal, pancakes, muffins, sky’s the limit. Bonus tip for people with kids- every time your kid leaves a few pieces of fruit on their plate, or only eats half the banana- toss it all into one freezer bag, once you have enough fruit in there- time to make a smoothie!
Prep your produce. The easiest way to make sure you’re getting in your fruits and vegetables is to have them ready to go. The more fruits and vegetables you get in, the lower your risk for chronic illness, better memory, healthier gut function, and the longer you live! So when you bring home your produce- cut up the carrots into strips, wash the berries, clean and rip up the lettuce (salad spinner to the rescue), peel and dice the mango, you see where I’m going with this. If it’s a matter of grabbing an apple that’s ready to go, or having to wash one, I might end up grabbing some cookies since it’s faster.

Now you have ten great tips that are easy to try and adapt to what you want. You don’t need to try all ten at once, just pick a few that would make the most impact and then add more once you’re comfortable with the first few. I would pick two (3 max) and build on them as you go. I’m notorious for just throwing the produce in the fridge or on the counter and forgetting it, so I would start there for sure.

Let us know which ones you pick to start!

Stay Happy, Stay Healthy

This blog was written by Chris Henigan MS, RD, LDN, co-founder of Simple Start Nutrition. For more blog posts and nutrition information follow @simplestartnutrition on Instagram and Facebook. Also feel free to contact us, by visiting our website (simplestartnutrition.com) to schedule an appointment to discuss your nutrition related needs.