{"id":1797,"date":"2017-06-22T16:34:49","date_gmt":"2017-06-22T16:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/?p=1797"},"modified":"2019-01-21T20:38:11","modified_gmt":"2019-01-21T20:38:11","slug":"summer-produce-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/summer-produce-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Produce Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer Produce Guide<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

<\/p>\n\"Summer\n

Watermelon<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Health Benefits:<\/strong> With its high water content and being rich in potassium (a natural electrolyte), watermelon is a perfect treat for staying hydrated during the summer heat.
\n<\/span>
\nBuy It:<\/strong> Look for a watermelon with a smooth, unblemished rind. When lifted, it should feel heavy for its size.
\n<\/span>
\nServe It:<\/strong> Fresh watermelon needs no added seasonings and flavorings. It can be eaten all on its own, but it\u2019s also a wonderful addition to salads, fruit cocktail and frozen drinks. Use it to make a refreshing sorbet or brush slices with oil and grill just until grill marks appear.
\n<\/span>
\nFun Fact:<\/strong> Watermelon is related to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\"Summer\n

Berries<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Health Benefits:<\/strong> Berries may be small, but they pack a powerful punch of antioxidants. They are filled with vitamins A, C and E and flavonoids, which give them their brilliant color and protect against cancer, inflammation and heart disease.
\n<\/span>
\nBuy It:<\/strong> Select berries that are plump and vibrantly colored. Avoid containers with mold, stains or varieties with dull or wrinkled skin.
\n<\/span>
\nServe It:<\/strong> For their full nutritional benefit, it\u2019s best to eat berries raw. However, they will add vitamins, minerals and sweetness to dishes such as overnight oats, yogurt-covered berries, salads, desserts or frozen and blended into smoothies.
\n<\/span>
\nFun Fact:<\/strong> According to research published in the journal Neurology, people who eat at least two servings of berries each week have a 25 percent less chance of developing Parkinson\u2019s disease.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\"Summer\n

Mangoes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Health Benefits:<\/strong> Mangoes are a water dense fruit that are only 100 calories per cup. They have high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C which help lower cholesterol.
\n<\/span>
\nBuy It:<\/strong> The color of a mango doesn\u2019t indicate how ripe it is. Give it a little squeeze \u2013\u00ad firm flesh with a little give means the mango is ripe.
\n<\/span>
\nServe It:<\/strong> Eat mangoes out of hand as a healthy snack or add to salads, smoothies or salsas. The fruit has natural tenderizing properties so they\u2019re the perfect addition to marinades and chutneys.
\n<\/span>
\nFun Fact:<\/strong> Mangoes were first grown in India over 5,000 years ago and are now one of the world\u2019s most popular fruits.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\"Summer\n

Tomatoes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Health Benefits:<\/strong> Tomatoes are a low calorie vegetable that are low in fat and have no cholesterol. They are rich in lycopene, a compound known to make skin less sensitive to UV light damage.
\n<\/span>
\nBuy It:<\/strong> Pick tomatoes that have a bright red color and firm, wrinkle-free skin.
\n<\/span>
\nServe It:<\/strong> Tomatoes are a staple of Mediterranean cuisine, often found in sauces, salads and soups. Add slices to burgers, sandwiches and pizza; sprinkle halved tomatoes with grated Parmesan cheese and oregano, then grill until the cheese melts; toss cherry tomatoes into fresh summer salads or add to kabobs.
\n<\/span>
\nFun Fact:<\/strong> According to Guinness World Record, the heaviest tomato ever was 7 pounds, 12 ounces.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\"Summer\n

Cucumbers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Health Benefits:<\/strong> Skip the multivitamin and eat a cucumber. This vegetable contains a number of B vitamins, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.
\n<\/span>
\nBuy It:<\/strong> Choose cucumbers that are firm with rounded edges and a smooth, dark green skin.
\n<\/span>
\nServe It:<\/strong> Many of the nutrients are found in a cucumber\u2019s skin, so leave the peel on to receive their full health benefits. Use thin slices to flavor water, or use to make pickles, a chilled soup or tzatziki (a Greek condiment made with grated cucumber, plain yogurt, olive oil, vinegar and fresh dill).
\n<\/span>
\nFun Fact:<\/strong> Cucumbers can eliminate bad breath. Hold a slice on the roof of your mouth for 30 seconds and let the phytochemicals in cucumbers kill odor-causing bacteria.
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summer Produce Guide Watermelon Health Benefits: With its high water content and being rich in potassium (a natural electrolyte), watermelon is a perfect treat for staying hydrated during the summer heat. Buy It: Look for a watermelon with a smooth, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-plant-based"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1797"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1811,"href":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1797\/revisions\/1811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inseasonezine.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}