5 Different Fruits and Veggies to Try This Summer

Summer time is here … HOORAY! Bring on the beach vacations, picnics, trips to the pool and of course camp lunches. If you’re like me and tired of serving up the ole carrots and ranch dip, look no further for a few new, exciting and tasty fruits and veggies to add to your lunch box or cooler to keep things on the healthier side this summer. Each variety of produce listed is easy to find at most larger, local grocery stores. Enjoy these colorful and interesting fruits and veggies at the dinner table, poolside or added to your snack repertoire.

Sugar snap peas, uncooked
Sugar snap peas, uncooked

Sugar Snap Peas – Delicious raw or cooked, the sugar snap pea has a sweet crunchy exterior with peas inside its pod. Don’t be fooled, unlike many pea varieties the entire pod can be eaten. When serving sugar snaps to my kids (and myself) I prefer to remove the fibrous string at the end as it can be a little tough to chew. Dip sugar snaps peas in hummus or dressing, steam them using this simple recipe or toss them into your next stir-fry for some added crunch. Be careful not to over cook the pods or they will fall apart and become mushy.

Jicama prepared with chili powder and lime juice (top), Jicama, as found in stores (bottom)
Jicama with chili powder and lime juice (top),
Jicama, as found in stores (bottom)

Jicama – A root vegetable native to Mexico and South America, Jicama will be a refreshingly crisp and delicious addition to your summer picnics. Once purchased, wash and peel off the thin outer skin with a vegetable peeler (similar to a potato). Jicama has a crisp texture and mildly sweet taste comparable to an apple. Serve raw with a squeeze of lime, a pinch of salt and dash or chili powder or toss with olive oil and salt and bake until golden to make jicama fries.

Blood Oranges
Blood Oranges

Blood Oranges – Sweet, tart and interesting in color, blood oranges will be a hit in your kids’ camp lunches. To prepare, treat these yummy fruits just as you would any orange, but caution, most varieties of blood oranges have seeds. If you’re into juicing take advantage of the brilliantly colored juice of blood oranges and add to popsicles or mixed drinks for an extra splash of color.

Kale salad (left), Kale, as found in stores (right)
Kale salad (left), Kale, as found in stores (right)

Kale – Kale is a hearty, dark green that is mild in flavor which makes it super versatile while packing a nutritious punch. Prepared in salad, kale is a great addition to picnic lunches because it holds up well even after sitting in dressing (unlike lettuce that wilts). Try this recipe for a simple preparation of kale salad that is quite tasty. Kale is also delicious roasted and made into chips or added to soups that call for leafy greens.

Papaya cut in half (top left), Papaya ready for snacking (bottom left), Papaya as found in stores (right)
Papaya cut in half (top left), Papaya ready for snacking (bottom left), Papaya as found in stores (right)

Papaya – Mildly sweet and juicy, papaya is refreshing on a hot summer day. Since the papaya fruit is large, one goes a long way — an extra bonus for summer snacking. Select a fruit that is about half green and half golden yellow in color that gives slightly to gentle pressure. To prepare, cut in half, scoop out the seeds and discard and cut the orange fruit off the rind for easier eating.

Happy healthy summer snacking!

Jennifer
Jennifer is a native of Houma, LA, but moved to Baton Rouge nearly 10 years ago to be with the love of her life. She and her husband are proud parents to a spunky five-year-old daughter, Kendall, and curious two-year-old son, Keller. Jennifer works part-time as Speech Therapist treating the adult and geriatric populations. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking food from scratch for friends and family, shopping, exercising, volunteering in the community and exploring the wonderful world of wine! Jennifer believes that love is shown through food (as most Louisiana natives do) and enjoys filling the tummies of those for whom she cares. Jennifer is a member of the Junior League of Baton Rouge. Jennifer and her family are proud residents of the Baton Rouge area and love the culture and fun our community has to offer.

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