This time of year, as it gets warmer and the days get longer, people are often drawn to eating outside. With summer holidays, picnics and cookouts become more frequent. Luckily, summer is also filled with lots of wonderful fresh produce as well.  We often spend so much time focusing on protein when meal planning, so this time of year is great to bring the focus back to vegetables and fruits.

Healthy eating tips often include

• Grill or roast meats instead of frying or sauteing.
• decreasing fats by choosing Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
• choosing lean protein such as fish or chicken
• removing skin and visible fats from poultry and meats
• Choose small amounts of bold-flavored cheeses (extra-sharp cheddar, Parmesan, bleu cheese) to liven up the flavor without having to use much

But there are many ways to enjoy tasty, flavorful, and interesting foods by increasing the produce in your meals. This can make them more healthful, without the feeling of deprivation. Here are just a few to get you started:

• Try new (to you) vegetables, check out a farmers market or try a produce co-op.
• Choose sliced fresh veggies (carrots, peppers, squash) to serve with dips instead of crackers or chips
• Grill veggies along with lean meats (think kebabs!)
• Try grilled peach halves or pineapple rings topped with cinnamon and a dollop of light whipped cream for a lovely and tasty dessert
• Use half as much pasta in recipes and add shredded carrots, zucchini, or other veggies
• Replace some of the added salt in a recipe with sodium-free flavor-boosters like a squeeze of lemon or lime and/or chopped fresh herbs
• Add diced vegetables, like mushrooms or peppers to the ground meat for burgers

Questions or comments? email me at Marlena Farley