Summer health is all about choosing foods that keep you cool and balanced.
At this point, most people know the basics of what you’ve got to do to be healthy.
Eating nutrient-dense foods is a good starting point.
You also need to move your body regularly.
And it helps to throw some mental practices like meditation into the mix as well to keep your mind healthy too.
But what most people don’t realize is that your health needs change throughout the year.
Because the climate around you influences how you feel in your body and mind.
Just think about what kinds of foods and activities you crave when it’s cold and rainy in the middle of autumn vs. when it starts getting warm and sunny in spring.
Cold rainy fall weather generally makes you want to snuggle up under a warm blanket, read a book, and eat some hot soup with toast.
But most people want to eat fresh, light, and crispy foods and do more vigorous activities when spring comes around.
Those cravings are your body’s wisdom talking.
Because from a holistic standpoint, health is about balancing your internal landscape with your external environment.
And when you know how to do that, you feel healthier, more energized, balanced, and joyful than you ever thought possible.
All of those uncomfortable symptoms that you thought you just had to live with can disappear.
Now, I’m not going to lie.
The nitty-gritty of this balancing act can get kind of overwhelming when you’ve never thought of your health holistically before.
And that’s why I offer customized nutrition and holistic wellness plans, so you don’t have to understand all the details of seasonal eating to reap the benefits.
But there are some general guidelines that will help pretty much everyone when it comes to summer health.
And knowing what to eat to balance the summer heat is a great way to start.
That’s why I’m giving you this starter list of some of the healthiest foods to eat in summer.
Feel free to print this out and keep it on your fridge as inspiration all summer long!
Early Summer:
Sweet Peas
Beets
Carrots
Celery
Fennel
Baby Potatoes
Turnips
Mid Summer:
Broccoli
Cauliflower
String Beans
Summer Squash
Cucumbers
Late Summer:
Eggplant
Peppers
Tomatoes
Radicchio
Endive
All Summer Long:
Fresh herbs like parsley, mint, cilantro, thyme, basil, dill, rosemary, sage, oregano, etc.
Swiss chard
Spinach
Kale
Apples
Berries
Dates
Watermelon
Peaches
Plums
Avocados
Lemons + limes
Ghee
Avocado oil
Olive oil
Chickpea flour
Nuts, seeds, nut butters
Barley
Quinoa
Basmati rice
Whole wheat
Tofu
Fish, especially white fish
Chickpeas
White beans
Mung beans
Yogurt
Tamari
Coconut water
Rose water
Green and white tea
Lavender
Chamomile
Cardamom
Coriander
Fennel seed
Turmeric
Sea salt
Black pepper
When It’s Hot + Humid:
Eat more astringent foods like rose or jasmine tea, as well as some salty and bitter flavors in moderation
Eat more drying foods like crackers
When It’s Hot + Dry:
Drink plenty of cool (but never iced) fluids
Eat more fruits
Steam vegetables
Eat summer soups
In Summer, Always Avoid:
Iced drinks and foods
Extremely hot food
Spicy foods
Heavy, greasy, and oily foods
Ingredients you can’t pronounce, processed foods, preservatives
Refined ingredients (white flour, white sugar, etc.)
Stimulants
Alcohol
Fermented foods
Red onion
Want more?
Enter your name + email below to get a FREE sample summer meal-plan and shopping list.
And now I’d love to hear from you.
What’s your favorite summer food?
Leave a comment and share a recipe if you’d like, I could always use more inspiration!