Fresh Produce July Superfoods

As fantastic and protein-packed as meat and fish are, you need your fresh produce too for a balanced diet. Any dark green or brightly colored veggies could be considered a superfood, but it’s good to get variety and experiment with different fruits and veggies while they’re in season.

Blueberries

You can get blueberries year round, but they’re definitely at their best in the Summer. Not only will they taste better when fresh, you’ll probably be able to get them cheaper too, as there’s a bigger supply to meet the demand.

They’re chocked full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and unlike a lot of other fruits, they’re very low in sugar, typically containing just 7g of sugar per 100g serving.

Strawberries

These feature for almost exactly the same reasons as blueberries. In the summer they taste better, are cheaper and have a low carb count. Plus, you can feel like you’re part of Wimbledon, even if you’re just watching on your TV.

Strawberries and blueberries also have a low glycemic load. Glycemic load refers to how quickly your body breaks down a certain food into sugars. Low GL foods tend to be far better than high GL ones as they digest and break down far slower, delivering a sustained energy release.

Kiwis

Kiwi fruit actually contain more vitamin C than oranges. (92.7 mg per 100g compared to orange’s 53.2 mg per 100g.) Extremely underrated, kiwis make an excellent addition to a fruit salad or just eaten straight from the fridge. They’re less than 10 percent sugar too, so throw them in a blender with ice, some mixed berries, almond milk and a little coconut to make a killer superfood summer smoothie.

Grape Tomatoes

For a cooling, healthy, on the go summer snack, you can’t beat grape tomatoes. They have a high water and potassium content, which helps keep you hydrated, and also contain beta carotene and lycopene, which prevent your skin from sun damage.

Add them to salads, or put them on kebab skewers with other veggies and toss them on the grill alongside your meat and fish.

Avocados

You might be surprised that a high fat food made the list, but fat is nothing to be scared of. Avocados are high in monounsaturated fat, which many people don’t get enough on, due to the high polyunsaturated and trans fat content of many processed and readymade foods.

They’re also a great provider of fiber and make an excellent addition to salads, or as a starter before your main meal.

Eggplant

Eggplant is in season between June and July, so you’re guaranteed to get the best fresh-tasting, high-nutrient produce over the summer. They improve blood flow and contain tryptophan, which helps you get to sleep – perfect for those hot summer nights. Put eggplant on your grape tomato kebabs along with peppers, mushroom, zucchini, broccoli, or any other barbecue-friendly vegetable your heart desires.