Summertime tips

I know I am pushing the season a little, but let's start thinking about Summer. The warm sun on our face, the green grass between our toes, and all of those yummy fruits and veggies! Here are a few tips to make the most of Summer:

Summer Workouts

• Give your workout a boost and take it to the outdoors! Get out and enjoy the sunshine! Take a hike, ride a bike, go for a swim. Remember, exercise early in the morning or later in the evening if it’s hot outside.

• If you haven’t exercised over the long winter then cut yourself some slack; take longer warm ups and cool downs until you get back into the swing of things.

• Stay hydrated! Keep water and a wet towel handy.

• If the kids are home workout with them. Play ball, skip rope, play tag. Workouts don't have to be in the gym.

Summer Eating

• Don't have a garden? Eat from someone else's! Get permission from your neighbor or shop your local Farmer's Market! Meet 1 Grower & buy from them when possible-you'll taste how much fresher and delicious seasonal eating can be. It's cheaper to eat produce when it's at its peak! Check out www.localharvest.org -or- wwwkcfoodcircle.com to see where the market's are in your area.

• When it's hot in the summer, eat cooling foods to naturally "chill" the system! Try sliced cucumbers, have a handful of frozen berries or red grapes, keep bite-sized pieces of watermelon or cantaloupe in a bowl in the your fridge...then say ahhhhhhhh!

• Instead of soda pop, make your own lemonade! All you need is 1 pitcher of fresh water, 3 lemons (just squeeze'm right into the water pitcher until all the juice is out-seeds optional), 2-3 Tablespoons of honey or agave nectar stirred in for a natural sweetener. Pour your lemonade over a glass of ice, add a lemon slice, maybe a sprig of mint if you want-and let your taste buds be refreshed!

* When buying that Summer fruit, look for fruit that feels heavy for its size, a sign of juiciness.

* Look for smooth unblemished skin.

* Most fruit (except pineapple and watermelon) will continue to ripen after it’s picked. Speed along the ripening process by storing at room temperature in a brown paper bag for a day or two.

* Ripe fruit should be soft enough to yield to the touch, but not overly mushy.

* Ripe fruit will give off a delicate sweet aroma.

Most of all enjoy yourself this Summer and don't let the season pass without appreciating all that it offers.

Eat Intentionally,

Cindy