Everything gets lighter in the summer: our clothes, our attitudes, and the spring in our step.  So there’s no reason why our food shouldn’t reflect the same lightness of being.

There’s a ton of good produce, fruits especially, that whether purchased at local farmers markets or from market aisles, is best during the summer months.

Instead of just chomping down on a crisp apple or a ripe peach, why not add a kick to your lunch  (or dinner) and add your favorite summer fruit to any basic salad recipe.  Add your own special two-cents (goat cheese, pine nuts… the salad bowl is open for interpretation!) to any simple spring mix.  Plus colorful fruit makes any salad bowl pop right off the table.

Everyone knows that peaches are great during the summer.  It’s why we make peach cobbler and eat peaches and cream.  But peaches are best served raw, as they lose 80% of their nutrients when cooked.  So if you want to keep that light summery feeling to your cuisine, just add a few slices of peach to a salad of your choosing, and voila, you have a brand new way to enjoy this spectacular burst of flavor.

Summer is also the season for fresh figs, which are some of the highest sources of fiber and contain large amounts of potassium, calcium, and iron.  Add a fig or five to a bowl of green and you’ll feel healthier than ever.

And our course, summer wouldn’t be summer without ice-cold, juicy and refreshing watermelon.   Watermelon is a source of beta carotene and Vitamin C, so you can be sure that if you add those pink cubes to a light and refreshing salad, each bite will prove better than the last.

Easy living and fresh, long sunny days are here.  Eat accordingly. 

-Arianna Schioldager