Fresh Summer Vegetables!
I’m not sure which summer month is my favorite for fresh vegetables – probably July. I’m joyful and overwhelmed at the same time when I see all my choices. I’m also grateful for farmers who work so hard to grow all that good nutrition. There’s tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, summer squash, fennel, carrots, peppers, corn-on-the-cob, potatoes, eggplant, later season leafy greens and more.
Sorting Out All Those Vegetables!
There is only one way I’ve found to sort out July’s fresh vegetables. Whether you shop at the grocery store, a fresh market, a Farmer’s market or grow your own veggies, lay everything out on the kitchen counter as a starting point. Identify what you’ve got and make a list if it helps you keep everything straight. If you have kids, be sure to get them involved, too, for a fun, hands-on lesson about veggies.
Dipping Vegetables!
I’ve rarely met anyone who doesn’t love dipping. Kids are at the top of the dip-lovers-list followed by tweens, teens, young adults, and older adults. So let’s talk healthy dips that will make summer vegetables even yummier. Before you know it, you’ll have a healthier family supported by a healthier kitchen. By the way, just wash and cut up your cucumbers, zucchini, sweet Bell peppers, radishes, carrots, fennel and then dip away!
3 Healthy Dips
1. Chickpea Hummus – Buy it prepared at the grocery store or make it yourself. Here’s an easy hummus recipe.
2. Avocado Guacamole – Buy it prepared at the grocery store or make it yourself. Here’s an easy guacamole recipe. For my taste, I replace the Serrano pepper in this recipe with a couple cloves of minced fresh garlic.
3. Nut or Seed Butter – Take your choice of peanut butter, almond butter, soy butter or sunflower butter and buy at the grocery store. Once you scoop some into a dipping bowl, you may need to add a little water & stir to make it less thick.
Get Your Family to Eat More Vegetables!
There’s one very tasty and very effective way to get more excited about eating vegetables. Buy fresh, seasonal veggies and dip them into healthy dips. It’s that easy – really! For support of your healthier kitchen and healthier choices, please join me on Facebook where I offer daily tips, recipes and inspiration this summer and all year long!
What summer vegetables are your favorites?