Loving parents find great delight in creating happiness, fun and joy for their children. They also feel a duty to do what’s best to nurture their kids’ growth, safety and health. I truly believe these innate drives to nourish, charm, inspire and entertain our offspring are divine and come right from our Heavenly Father and Mother.
With this thought in mind, summer delightfully proves my point. Our Heavenly Father, the Master Creator of all that grows, created fresh fruits and vegetables that delight every sense. Within summertime produce are unique elements of taste, touch, sight, sound and smell. And don’t forget the sense of humor! Think about it: who doesn’t want to taste fresh corn on the cob or the smell of picking tomatoes from the vine? Who doesn’t thrill in seeing the sheer beauty of the delicate shading in pink and orangey peaches? Or marvel at the feel of their soft, fuzzy skins? What about the distinctive crack of a watermelon when it is split open, the snap of peas and green beans out of the garden being shelled? And the tickle of peach juice dripping down your chin are joys made just for summer.
Truly, our Heavenly Parents didn’t have to do something so special, so colorful and (as I will point out soon,) so humorous, but they did! To me it is proof of their love and never-ending tender care for us. The fun and joy of these triumphant foods stand alone on these merits alone. But their truest value is not in sight, sound, touch, taste and feel, but in the powerful nutrition and the literal fuel they provide for our precious bodies to run on. These bodies are an essential element of our mortal journey and for our eternal salvation. What a testimony fruits and veggies are of our Father’s desire to both delight our souls and strengthen our bodies. These are big boosts (both physically and mentally) to helping us stay firmly on the path that is homeward bound … to Him.
I don’t think any of us need too much encouragement to eat well from nature’s bounty during the summer. To me it’s a feast and a party that lasts well into the Autumn … and what’s a party without some laughter?
Here are ten of my favorite summer-time fruits and veggies along with some fascinating health facts and a silly laugh or two – or three!
1. Wonderful Watermelon
What says “SUMMER” more than watermelon!? It makes us smile to even think about it. Here’s a riddle to share with your grandkids:
Q: When do you start at red and stop at green?
A: When you’re eating watermelon!
Besides being delicious, colorful and fun, watermelon has a high water content and are a great way to keep us cool and hydrated. Their satisfying sweetness helps us avoid unhealthy snacking. As an added bonus, watermelon also contains lycopene, which protects skin cells from sun damage.
2. You say-Toe-MAY-toes, I say Toe-MAW-toes!
While using an excellent quality sunscreen matters throughout the summer is important, the lycopene that creates the red color (just as in watermelons above) are very helpful for protecting the skin from sunburn. Tomatoes help prevent several types of cancer. They help maintain strong bones. Tomatoes provide essential antioxidants.
So go ahead, feast on those home-grown tomatoes all you want!
I’ve got a link below that provides 10 reasons for why we should be eating more tomatoes.
3. Cantaloupes and Honeydews
These delicious fruits are the heart of many a joke, mostly about marriage. CLICK HERE for a bunch of cute ones that’ll crack everybody up. Healthwise, melons are loaded with nutrients, water and flavor. They also act as a diuretics that do not cause dehydration.
Do you know the saying “Men and melon are hard to tell?” It’s true. Here are some tips for picking the good ones, — well, melons, at least!
* Inspect the melon for defects: Your first order of business should be to inspect what the melon looks like. Does it have any bruising, soft spots or cracks? Choose a melon that’s not damaged on the outside. It should be free of bruises, soft spots, moldy patches and cracks.
* Check the skin color: When buying watermelon and honeydew, choose a melon with a dull looking appearance. A shiny outside is an indicator of an underripe melon. Also, honeydews should be pale yellow to light lemon in color, not overly green. With melons such as cantaloupe and muskmelons, the rind underneath the net-like texture should be golden or orange in color. Avoid melons with an underlying green or white color.
* Tap, tap, tap: Have you ever tried the tapping test when buying a watermelon? It’s quite simple. Just tap the melon with the palm of your hand. If you hear a hollow sound, it’s passed the first test.
* Size does matter: Pick up a few melons and see how they feel. Choose a melon that’s heavy for its size.
* Don’t forget the smell test: This works best with melons like cantaloupes and honeydew. Push your fingers on the round section where the vine was attached. It should be slightly soft and should smell fresh and fragrant with a hint of sweetness.
4. Girls and Boys … and Girls and Boysenberries!
All berries have surprising and amazing health benefits. Strawberries and blueberries have flavenoids, which increases the blood flow to the skin. All berries are packed full of essential fiber.
Our good friend, Dr. Michael Greger, author of How Not To Die says at least one serving of berries should be eaten every day.
Here’s some more “berry” good news for how berries bless our bodies: Berries contain antioxidants which help keep free radicals under control. (Free radicals are unstable molecules that are beneficial in small amounts but can damage your cells when their numbers get too high, causing oxidative stress.) In addition to protecting your cells, these antioxidants may reduce disease risk.
5. Dark Leafy Green Summer Salads.
‘Nuf said! We know how important they are year round as some of the healthiest foods you can eat. But the fun part of summer is that there are so many more dark, leafy greens that are farm-fresh to choose from both the grocery store and the farmer’s market stores.
6. You’re a Peach!
Apricots, peaches and nectarines all contain dietary fiber. Peaches are full of Vitamin C. Did you know that all orange-colored fruits and vegetables are full of Vitamin A. Thanks to these gems, we can snack on Mother Nature’s candy and avoid salty or sugary packaged snacks.
7. Corn on the Cob
What’s summer without corn on the cob? Here’s a little-known fact:
Corn contains lutein and Zeaxanthin that may prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, according to Healthline. Wearing sunglasses will help protect your eyes from sun damage but eating corn can give you a little extra protection.
8. Cool, Cool Citrus!
Although it is not a summer seasonal fruit, oranges are rich in potassium, a nutrient that’s crucial for you in the summer. Potassium is lost through sweat and can put you at risk for muscle cramps. Oranges are also 80 percent water, so they are a refreshing way to stay hydrated. Add lemon to your water or drink homemade lemonade instead of soda. Add freshly squeezed lemon to your summer salads and fish to add some extra Vitamin C to your summer diet.
9. Avocado, The Rockstar!
Our new friend Janice Ewald, who lost 255 pounds over the last several years, says that she eats avocado almost every day. If you missed her story before, you can CLICK HERE to read it now. It’s pretttttyyyyyy amazing and she is a joy!
No healthy food list should leave this amazing superfood out. Avocados are a healthy and tasty source of monounsaturated fat, folate, and fiber. Plus, they are a natural anti-inflammatory so skip the ibuprofen and eat an avocado. Spread it on toast, put it in salads or make guacamole for a festive summer dip.
10. Zucchini: From A to Z, God Bless America …. and God bless zucchini! Once again, there are a ton of stories and jokes on this one.
If you’ve got five minutes to read a hilarious story, don’t miss this one! One family made memories worth remembering as they worked together to quietly sneak their overabundance of zucchini onto a neighbor’s porch, yard, mailbox every day for a whole summer – without getting caught! They even dressed one up like a baby, wrapped it in a blanket and left it at the front door in the middle of the night with a note. That delightful, true story is HERE.
All joking aside, zucchinis are loaded with nutrients and superior for our health! One serving provides 40% of the RDI for Vitamin A! It’s also high in antioxidants and contributes to healthy digestion. More fun than the jokes, it slows down aging because it is also rich in anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, which help rid the body of free radicals and excess inflammation.You may want to read more HERE about why we should really be indulging to our heart’s content on this powerhouse veggie.
Well, that’s 10!
And there’s a lot more to learn about each of them. So eat up and enjoy! Your body, health and energy will thank you!
As an added bonus … here’s one more:
11. My Miracle Detox — FROZEN! For many of us, this amazing detox is a year round staple addition to our regular diet. But in the summer, did you know you can freeze it into popsicles or ice cubes to add to your water?
It’s refreshing and delicious! And oh, the good that it does! You can click on the link below to learn more.
Potato Salad: A Recipe and Very Entertaining Video
Now, what’s summer without potato salad? Here’s a healthy one without mayonnaise, but you won’t miss it. Adding fresh, finely chopped dill really makes a difference. We turn it into a main dish by adding a well-drained can of soft, white cannelini beans. YUM!
While we’re talking about potato salad, if you’ve got time and need a laugh … don’t miss this video of the three Ross Sisters (think Andrews Sisters + the American Olympic gymnastic team) and their song/dance about potato salad. It’s absolutely hilarious. Oh, to have their flexibility, talents and charm!
CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds small red potatoes
- 1 large avocado
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon (or less) Herbamare or sea salt
- 1½ teaspoons maple syrup or liquid sweetener (optional, to balance the acidic lemon and spicy mustard)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh dill, packed and then chopped
- ½ bunch green onions (green part), sliced
- 3 stalks celery, trimmed and sliced
- ½ white onion, diced
DIRECTIONS:
Cook the potatoes in their skins. Cool and chop. Add all other ingredients. Mix well and chill for several hours to blend flavors. Serve and enjoy.
There is no end to the TLC our Heavenly Father provides to encourage us to find our way home to him… right on down into teasing us into eating the foods that are best for us! Have fun with the rest of your summer by enjoying the best of the best of his creations in the garden.
Links:
Youtube Video “The Ross Sisters” Song and Dance “Potato Salad” Circa 1955 CLICK HERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oMSKJHPzxc
Melon Jokes: http://www.jokes4us.com/miscellaneousjokes/foodjokes/melonjokes.html
Ten Reasons To Eat More Tomatoes
10 Reasons Why You Should Be Eating More Tomatoes | Florida Tomato Committee (floridatomatoes.org)
Health Benefits of Zucchini
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/zucchini-benefits/
The True Story of How I Spent An Entire Summer Sneaking Zucchini Onto My Neighbor’s Porch:
The True Story of How I Spent an Entire Summer Sneaking Zucchini onto My Neighbor’s Porch | MyRecipes
Carolyn Allen is the Author of 60 Seconds to Weight Loss Success, One Minute Inspirations to Change Your Thinking, Your Weight and Your Life. She has been a columnist for Meridian Magazine since 2007. She provided mental and spiritual approaches for weight loss success and happy living both online and in the Washington, DC community since 1999 through Weight Watchers, First Class, Fairfax County Adult Education and other community groups. She and her husband, Bob, are the parents of five children and grandparents of a growing number of darling little ones. They are now happy empty nesters in Sandy, Utah where they center their online business for an amazing herbal detox.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
