10 Step Checklist for Eating Fresh This Summer

 

Summer is upon us! And what better way to celebrate than with amazing recipes, great food and great company?  But how many times (I know I am guilty!) have we walked into a store and INSTANTLY forgot what we are there for?

So to improve my own commitment to eating healthier this summer, I came up with this 10 Step Checklist to help me eat fresher this summer.  Many of these are “tried and true” methods!

 

1.  Write down the items you need before you go into the store to avoid store overwhelm.

2. Find recipes that have around  5-7 ingredients.  Keeping recipes simple with a few vegetables or fruits can really maximize the flavors.

3. Experiment with spices, curries, salt rubs, vinaigrettes, etc.  Many times simply adding a dash of spice to your vegetables can drastically increase the flavor of the foods. Experiment! Try  lemon, pepper, Himalayan sea salt, curry, etc. for extra flavors.

4. Shop at local farms, fruit stands and Saturday markets to support local vendors.

5. Make a list of alternate recipe items. For example, if a recipe calls for “lemon”, maybe write down “lime”, in case the prices don’t match or your primary item is unavailable.

6. Watch where you shop! If you find yourself drifting into the inner aisles of a store, you are most likely shopping in the boxed and processed foods. Most stores have the freshest selections in the outer perimeter of the store.

7. Don’t be afraid to buy frozen. Frozen doesn’t always mean “not fresh”.  Be sure to review the labels, but many items are flash frozen with the flavor locked in.

8. Check your local listing for coupons at local stores before the week starts; maximize your spending when you can on different days of the week.

9. Spend an evening looking for recipes that make you really excited about wanting to make them! Make a plan for prepping and eating your great recipes.  Set aside 30 minutes a day, etc. to Pin, print and collect the recipes so they are easily searchable. This will make your prep. times quicker.

10. Spend time on YouTube, Vimeo etc. watching videos about how to cook with new spices and foods.  Many of the videos are done very well, and can help to teach and motivate you on how to cook new items.