Dear Friends! Summer is here and NOW is the time to rediscover the nearly unbounded energy and enthusiasm for learning and life that we were all given through the miraculous gifts of our bodies!  Give yourself and your loved ones wonderful blessings this summer:  better nutrition and better health. You are probably doing a very good job of this already, but here are some suggestions to maximize your nutrition and minimize the effort.

1. Add new vegetables to your favorite recipes. For example, add summer squash, finely diced Swiss chard, or spinach to soups, salads & pasta sauces. Or you can use asparagus, leeks, fresh mozzarella & red onions in your omelets or roll in a slice of no-nitrate prosciutto or bacon.
   
   
2. Start a Science-Kid challenge at home to find the best tasting recipe to use the most uncommon vegetable - have you heard of Kohlrabi?  It is a fantastic vegetable that is similar in flavor to a radish and both the leaves and root are yummy (you need to peel the root and can dice for salads or eat raw).
   
   
3. Purchase fresh, organic fruits, vegetables, and meats as often as possible – remembering to WASH the produce with soap and dry before eating or preparing.  Mold and dirt are natural substances, but you don’t really want to eat them.
   
   
4. Prepare ahead by slicing and dicing veggies so that they are ready to eat when you are –place a healthy dip of yogurt dressing or hummus in the bottom of a short cup and vertically put a variety of veggies into the cut for cute, healthy snacks.
   
   
5. Reduce refined sugars and carbohydrates (which the body turns into sugar) by substituting corn meal and quinoa products for wheat products and avoiding processed foods.
   
   
6. Avoid soda, ice cream and popsicles loaded with petroleum products – use a mix of sparkling water, stevia (a natural sweetener) and freshly squeezed juice from oranges, limes and lemons or freeze for some
   tasty and healthy treats.
   
   
7. Take a family trip to a nearby farm or go to the local farmer’s markets - enjoy the fresh produce and see how many new types of products are available.
   
   
8. Probiotics for health: After adjusting our eating habits and adding probiotics (the good bacteria that help our bodies breakdown and use the food we eat), my ever escalating allergies have abated. As I have learned, our bodies are so miraculous and can heal so well when given the chance to absorb nutrients. I find it a relief to stop taking allergy medication and look forward to continued adventures in the kitchen and in the garden (without the box of tissues).

Here’s to summer and the bounty it provides! Enjoy the feast!