In our modern world, we’re getting more and more concerned with the environment. A great way to support the environment with your diet is to buy fruit and veg that’s in season at that moment. So, in the summertime, what are your summer veg choices?
Broccoli
This dinner-table classic is in season throughout the summer, and it’s a personal favorite. It has a uniquely pungent and bitter flavor which makes it a great side dish.
My favorite way to serve it, personally, is sauteed with a little garlic. The trick is to par-boil it and then saute it for just long enough that it’s soft and the outside begins to gently char.
When your broccoli is slightly dark, it’s ripe for serving. In our house, we’re a little addicted to garlic, so I’ll typically mince three or four cloves of garlic for a broccoli side dish.
Mince your garlic very finely with a little sea salt in order to get your garlic distributed well throughout the meal – a trick I learned courtesy of a Gordan Ramsay YouTube video.
Aubergine
This crowd-pleaser is used in so many different meals. It offers a rich, thickening quality to any stew or curry that it’s used in, and it can be incredibly succulent if cooked well.
My favourite way to cook this veg is to simmer it for a long time in a deep, thick pot. Typically, I’ll make a simple base of onions and garlic and then add the aubergine in with a few tins of chopped tomatoes and whatever spices I feel like that day.
Usually, I’ll go for a more eastern palate that’s a little spicy, and then serve it in a deep dish with a side of sour cream and a little pomegranate – truly a decadent, low-effort meal.
Spring Onions
Yet another great veg that’s in season all summer long, these kitchen staples can flavor up a number of dishes. They go particularly well in creamier sauces, for example, a cheesy pasta bake.
A great way to eat these in a meal is to add them right at the end after slicing them thinly. They don’t require much time to cook at all, and they’ll be little flavor bombs throughout the meal.
These little delights will also go well in a healthier recipe, such as a simple stir fry. Simple add in these, sliced, along with some chicken, a diced bell pepper, and some noodles. You’ve got yourself a simple yet satisfying meal which only needs a little sauce to liven it up.
These ingredients barely scratch the surface of the number of fruits and veg that are in season over the summer. The spring is a great season for growth, and the summer’s great for an early harvest.
Use these seasonal veggies along with any others you can find to make a big meal for the whole family to sit together and enjoy. What better time is there than time spent in your summertime garden with good food and your family for company?
Planning for a healthy summer
If you want healthy food for a relaxing summer where you don’t put on the pounds I have some great summer recipes to help. Be sure to get out the BBQ and put rubs on meats, marinate tofu or get that charcoal in to ensure that you have a great time.
Whatever you do be sure to plan ahead because we all know that when the weather is nice no shops have BBQ foods in anymore and the whole of the supermarket is full of people with trolleys of bread rolls and beer. If the weather is a bit questionable there are plenty of cool summer meals to make in the air fryer to avoid putting the oven on or settling for a Mexican salad or Greek salad again!
A healthy summer means a little planning ahead to ensure you can stay on plan and still have tasty summer foods. That way you can always save calories or syns for favourites, mine are low syn chocolate or Jaffa Cake gin!
If you hate meal planning then check out my summer meal plan or for cooler days my late summer/autumn plan.
