Lightning bugs, sweaty kids, long days and the smell of fresh cut grass. These are the signs of summer to me! We’ve gone from being on schedules to carefree days and endless nights. Eating multiple desserts on a hot day may seem to be acceptable now, yet the rest of the year we wouldn’t dare indulge in these temptations.  With so much play how can we ensure we’re maintaining good eating habits?

With summer time being my favorite season I’m determined to show my family that healthy eating can be accomplished without having to sacrifice taste. Using the wonderful foods that nature has provided us with during this time of the year, we can create unlimited recipes that the entire family can enjoy and feel good about eating.  Fresh fruits and colorful vegetables can be exactly what are needed to make even the pickiest child eat their veggies.

Kids love to see how things are made and where they come from. Gardening can be a fun and educational way to help them understand the nutritional value of the foods we eat. By allowing them to upkeep the garden they’ll become more intrigued by the foods and will be eager to try new ones.  Another benefit of gardening is it keeps the kids outdoors and active.  Have them dig the holes for the plants and keep the garden weeded. These are great ways for them to burn off some extra calories and gain some strength. I’m convinced there’s hope in the parent’s battle against electronics if we’ll continue to engage in their lives and find a common ground that we can share with our children.

As your plants begin to come in think of creative and fun ways to introduce them into your meals. Tomatoes are a great base for a lot of kid friendly foods. Preparing fresh pizza or spaghetti sauce is an easy way to allow the kids to be involved. Let them add the seasoning or the toppings to the base with other fresh herbs and spices available. By using individual servings each child make their sauce according to their own taste. Peppers can be fun to use on kabobs, stuffed, or just sliced up and ate alone. I can remember planting my first potato as a child and anxiously watching it grow. The best part about it was the unknown. Since the crop grows underground you never know what the harvest is going to produce. This can be a fun mystery for some kids!

Of course we can’t forget the fruit! Seasonal fruits can be the biggest treat of the summer. Watermelon, strawberries, peaches, and others are full of healthy vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants that are beneficial to us all. Even though they are natural they are a source of carbohydrates and contain sugar. Fruits are a better option for kids than other sugary desserts but be sure the portions are reasonable and don’t overdo a good thing.

Summer is a great time for families to enjoy the outdoors together. Use this time as a way to stay active and eat healthy!