Foods to Favor in the Summer

In the heat and humidity of  summer, we want to favor foods and drinks that keep us calm and cool.  This is the time of year to eat salads and the bounty of fresh local fruit available at farmers' markets.

Some general guidelines are to eat fruit as snacks between meals and not as part of the meal.  Drinks should be cool but not ice cold. Of the 6 tastes favor sweet like rice, wheat and sweet fruit, bitter like lettuce and other greens and astringent like most lentils and beans and cabbage family vegetables.  Reduce consumption of pungent, sour and salty foods.  Pungent includes all hot peppers, mustard and raw onions, and sour includes vinegar, lemons, and hard cheeses.

Good vegetables for the summer include: cabbage, broccoli, green beans, zucchini and other summer squashes, lettuces, greens and cucumbers.

Good fruits are those that are sweet and ripe: berries, melons, avocados, sweet plums and apricots, apples and pears.

Some dairy products are good like whole milk, ghee and soft cheeses.

Eat whole grains that are light like white basmati rice and quinoa.  Oats and wheat are beneficial as well.

Summer seasonings that are especially beneficial are mint, coriander (both the seeds and fresh which is also called cilantro), fennel, cardamom, saffron, turmeric, tarragon and vanilla.

An especially refreshing drink for the summer is Hibiscus Mint Tea.  The recipe is in the "recipe" section of my blog.