Want to know another great thing about the summer? I mean, aside from the great weather, beach days, the bright sun (I could go on for days about why summer is an elite season lol). But today, I’m talking about the great food that’s in-season during the summer. The fruits and vegetables that are in season right now can be found at your normal grocery store, a farmer’s market, and if you’re confident enough in your green-thumb skills, your garden.
What’s In Season?
Hang in there, this is a pretty long list.
- Apples. Great thing about apples–there are so many different kinds that you can find one with the perfect crunch and sweetness to your liking.
- Apricots. Super similar to a peach, but if super sweet fruits (like peaches) aren’t your thing, apricots are another great option.
- Bananas. We all know what bananas are. Enough said here–they’re great.
- Beets. If you want to know more about beets, just watch The Office and Dwight will explain why they’re great. Kidding–beets can be used and cooked in all kinds of ways. They have tons of vitamins and minerals that benefit your health.
- Bell Peppers. We’ve got red, green, yellow/orange peppers. They’re delicious raw or cooked.
- Blackberries. This fruit is packed with antioxidants and it’s a great addition to a homemade fruit salad.
- Cantaloupe. These are mostly water so that’s a plus if you’re not big on drinking water throughout the day.
- Carrots. Good for your skin, good for your eyes, good for everything! This is another vegetable that’s good cooked or raw. You can dip them in some hummus (or ranch if you’re like me).
- Cherries. As with most fruits, they’re high in vitamins and antioxidants. Another great addition to a fruit salad, especially when their nice snd juicy.
- Cucumbers. I think it’s safe to say that we all know how hydrating cucumbers are. Another bonus, they’re packed with nutrients like potassium and magnesium.
- Green Beans. I love these vegetables because they’re so crunchy and low-calorie.
- Lemons. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend just eating a lemon, but hey, if that’s your thing, go for it. Lemons are high in vitamin C and fiber. Most people like adding lemon to their waters for some extra flavor and health benefits.
- Mangos. When you find a perfectly ripe and sweet one, they’re sooo good. Aside from being a tasty snack, they’re also really good for your skin.
- Peaches. A great choice for a summer snack. A lot of orchards let you pick your own during the summer. They also boost collagen production (good for healthy, glowing skin).
- Strawberries. They’re a sodium-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free, low-calorie food. I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like strawberries. There’s even one more bonus to strawberries–they’re one of the highest fruits in antioxidant levels.
- Tomatoes. Now I know not everyone is a fan of tomatoes, but you can cook them or have them raw. They also have great health benefits (like most of these fruits/veggies listed) in lowering your risk for certain diseases like heart disease and cancer.
- Watermelon. With watermelon being 92% water, it’s super hydrating and loaded with vitamins like A, B6, and C.
- Zucchini. Believe it or not, zucchini’s are classified as superfoods. This means that they have tons of health benefits when you eat them. From all their vitamins and nutrients, they have the ability to lower your risk for stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Written by GUADS staff member Toni with contributions from www.usda.gov
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