There are so many fruits and veggies in season right now that it would be a real shame not to take advantage of all these healthy and delicious foods.
So put the break on empty calories, at least temporarily because you can find delicious July fruits and veggies in all big supermarkets, at farmers’ markets and even at your local neighborhood store.
Many grocery stores source from local producers, including the smaller businesses, and they usually advertise in the weekly circular any available local produce. Look for that when flipping through weekly ads because fruits and vegetables grown locally are always the best.
Remember that seasonal foods are cost effective since they are in season and thus plentiful, making it easier for sellers to provide cheaper prices. The fruits and veggies to buy in July include:
Apricots, Blueberries, Cantaloupes, Cherries, Corn, Cucumbers, Green beans, Figs, Nectarines, Peaches, Plums, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watermelons, Yellow squash, Zucchini.
July being National Berry Month, you should be able to find plenty of deals for berries, from the common strawberry to the more expensive raspberry.
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In fact, July is a great month to buy raspberries on sale since these fruits are usually more expensive than other berries due to low yield.
Raspberries are also handpicked and quite sensitive. Even when slightly bruised, they can quickly cause mold. But they are also some of the most delicious and juicy berries and many people love them, especially gardeners.
So if you want to indulge in these berries chock full of vitamins, make sure you do so now while they’re still available and at a more decent price.
Dive into strawberries as well, but remember to choose fully ripe fruits as strawberries are not like other produce that continues to ripe after picked.
July is also National Watermelon Month, which means great opportunities for a refreshing fruit that, is also quite versatile. Watermelons are 90% water and so they are excellent for staying hydrated during the hot summer months.
A little secret you may not have known is that watermelons provide health benefits through the rind and the seeds also. Nutritionists recommend that you consume both of these along with the flesh for an extra boost of health. While you could simply munch on the black seeds, which many people don’t mind doing, the rind you should definitely blend into a smoothie.
Know that watermelon seeds contain fiber, protein, iron and zinc.
A festive vegetable for the month of July, although technically it is considered a fruit, is the tomato. Tomatoes are at their best during this month and you can use them to jazz up your menu in many different ways. Make it a challenge to switch from eating tomatoes only in pizza or ketchup form to eating and cooking fresh tomatoes and you’ll notice the difference.
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Quite a party and a BBQ favorite is the corn or sweet corn, abundant all through July. There’s probably not a single household in America that doesn’t grill corn. Aside from being plain and simple delicious, especially when rubbed with butter and salt all over, corn is also great for digestion.