Stay cool and stay raw
I’m sure by now everyone has noticed, the heat has officially set in this summer. It’s time to cool down with some delicious fruits and vegetables that really help bring down your body temperature and keep you nice and hydrated. The raw food diet is probably the most ideal diet for summer, since everything delicious is in season, has a lower price, and there is no need to fire up that hot stove or oven to prepare a delicious meal. Nature provides an abundance of food at this time of year to help keep us cool and nourished. Many fruits and vegetables that have a shorter season, such as summer squash, cucumbers, and melons, reach their peak during the hottest months and have the greatest cooling effect. Some refreshing greens include crisp lettuces, mixed baby greens, celery, crisp sunflower leaves and sprouts, and broccoli, which make great salad additions. Chop some fresh corn into your summer salads too, I’ve certainly been enjoying it lately. For a light dressing, try a high-quality extra virgin olive oil like bariani and our new coconut vinegar and coconut aminos. Combine with chopped fresh herbs and a pinch of salt and our salad is raw and ready to go.
Aim for high levels of juicy fruit during the summer. Melons of all kinds are amazing, and watermelon is especially refreshing for the system. Also try different varieties like galia, crenshaw, canary, Tucson cantaloupe, and casaba. Some of these melons are so sweet and delicate in flavor and texture that they almost melt in the mouth. Keep your melons in the refrigerator once they are ripe to prevent spoilage and to increase their cooling effect on the body. Be sure to load up on plenty of tomatoes, fresh bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and yellow summer squash as well, as these are refreshing fruits that will make great bases for flavorful meals when the fruit isn’t ripe. You can make vegetable chips with summer squash simply by marinating in a little olive oil, salt, and herbs and dehydrating until crisp. Also, one of my best summer meals is zucchini pasta, which is so light and flavorful that even your cook friends will be surprised that it’s raw and so easy to make. Ideal for summer potlucks and family meals.
Here are just a few of my favorite summer recipes:
Cilantro Lime Watermelon Juice- (Brrr… this juice will SURE refresh you quickly)
1/3-1/2 of an organic seedless watermelon, chilled in the refrigerator. Rinse the outer shell well because you will be squeezing the shell as well. The rind of the watermelon has a very mild flavor and contains a large amount of minerals, and will help balance the sweetness of the flesh.
1 handful of fresh coriander
juice of 1 whole lime
3 handfuls of fresh sunflower leaves
Optional: 3 large leaves lacinto kale (black dino kale)
Juice together and serve immediately.
Fresh cucumber and dill soup
3 peeled cucumbers
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 whole avocado
2 tablespoons fresh dill
2-3 tablespoons bariani olive oil or Ruth’s hemp seed oil
a few pinches of Bali sea salt to taste
Simply blend the above ingredients until very smooth, garnish with some fresh dill and avocado chunks. This soup is incredibly light, refreshing, and yet filling. Great with flax biscuits for a light dinner.
no heat pasta
*Spirilize both the green zucchini and the yellow summer squash for a nice color variation.
Summer noodles:
2 zucchini, 1 spiralized yellow summer squash
Dried tomato sauce:
2 medium heirloom tomatoes
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes soak for a few hours to soften
1/4 cup bariani olive oil
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
fresh herbs to taste such as oregano, sage and thyme
A few pinches of Bali sea salt
-Optional- 1 garlic clove (will increase the heat element of this dish)
Hemp Seed Pesto:
1/4 cup hemp seeds
1/2 cup of walnuts
1/4 cup bariani olive oil, hemp oil, or pumpkin seed oil.
1 cup packed basil
1/8 cup lemon juice
A few pinches of Bali sea salt to taste
Optional- 1 garlic clove.
Both sauces can be blended until smooth or left slightly lumpy in a food processor, depending on your preference. spoon over zucchini noodles, garnish with fresh basil leaves
Follow your body’s natural gravitation toward light and refreshing raw foods this summer to stay balanced and active. Also remember to drink plenty of fresh, pure water along with your fruits and vegetables to ensure our bodies are perfectly hydrated even when temperatures rise.
