This article is part of our Nutrition + Dining series. Here we explore holistic health topics and share favorite dishes from aligned restaurants.
4 essentials for a deliciously healthy Summer
With warmer weather and longer days, Summer brings a new chance to tune your diet and lifestyle to support good health.
Whether you’re planning a road trip, grand vacation, or staycation this Summer – we’ve got your healthy eats checklist to keep you happy and nourished along your way.
As always, listen to your body and prioritize healthy whole foods. To stay happy and healthy while beating the heat, we prefer organic green juice, seasonal salads, a proper breakfast, and a few healthy indulgences in moderation.
#1) All-organic green juice
Nothing says hello, healthy quite like a fresh cold-pressed green juice made with all-organic veggies! (Bonus: local when possible for hyper-fresh nutrition)
What’s it’s good for: Alkalizing hydration & notching up nutrients. Plus feeling all clean and pristine 😉
Juicing can be a wonderful way to get your greens. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, fresh-pressed juice provides an instant hit of nutrients or get a quick pick-me-up.
What to watch out for: Save the fruit and starchy vegetables for later to eat whole. Even carrots and beets can amp up sugar when juiced, as the fiber is removed. We always “go green” with seasonal greens, celery, cucumber, and/or parsley.
Since you’re essentially mainlining greens, always verify the source is fresh and clean, produced using organic or better practices.
If you have a medical condition restricting greens and have never juiced, avoid it.
Go-to example: “Great Green” juice at For the Health of It in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Made with seasonal greens and a touch of lemon.
Green juice is meant as a pick-me-up and nutritional boost — not a meal replacement. It lacks fiber and roughage, which brings us to #2…
#2 A seasonal salad, a la Alice Waters
Channeling Alice Waters as the ultimate salad muse and goddess.
A sensational salad on any menu is often a proxy for more deliciousness!
For Summer travels, we scan menus for fresh and seasonal, high-quality ingredients that are simply prepared. (think lightly dressed with fruity EVOO, herbs, salt, vinegar..)
Look for crisp cooling plates that won’t weigh you down. Seasonal berries, stone fruits, cucumbers, and melons incorporated into salads are all wonderfully refreshing on a hot summer day.
Good for: Whole food nutrition, good greens, and antioxidants. Somewhat hydrating.
Watch out for: Dressings not made onsite. “Sad salads” with wilted lettuce or lacking vivid varied colors. These bright colors are markers of nutrition! The more, the better.
Life’s too short for sad salads!
Go-to example: Of course, we could mention the classic Chez Panisse Local lettuces with baked local goat cheese. Or their “Rocket and Fennel Salad with Toasted Hazelnuts and Pecorino”…. but that would be cheating 😉
One of our favorite SF Bay Area spots for delicious salads featuring sustainable greens and vibrant colors is Pizzeria Delfina. Yes, a pizzeria!
Photo courtesy of Pizzeria Delfina
#3 A proper breakfast
There’s something about the eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a queen.. adage that we love – and it’s the emphasis on breakfast… Any day is best begun with proper fuel, and Summer adventures are no exception.
Photos courtesy of Season’s Harvest Cafe
#4 a few healthy delights, to sample and share
If you’re exploring new areas this Summer, seek out local artisan treasures and tastes you can’t get anywhere else.
A few examples…
- Handmade local artisan bakery treats from freshly-milled organic whole grain flours. (think: long-fermented sourdough croissants with all that crumb! YUM)
- Handcrafted small-batch cheeses (pastured jersey cow, sheep, goat.. or even Vegan!)
- For caffeine needs: Proper organic artisan coffee or tea house
- Locally-made Kombucha or other craft beverages
- Boutique biodynamic low-intervention wines.
Photos courtesy of The French R-evolutions
Hungry yet?
There’s plenty more to explore! We’re rounding up remarkably healthy, sustainable, delicious places for our members.
Our mobile app includes top recommendations for healthy eats, plus at-a-glance info to help you enjoy better food with fewer choices. Don’t miss the chance to have that collection at your fingertips!
If you can’t wait to get your hands on our app, you can get early access over here!
Otherwise, be first to know when we hit app stores by signing up to stay posted below.
Thanks for joining us on this journey in eating and living healthy anywhere!
Discover the best healthy, sustainable, and delicious food near you.
Healthy Anywhere
Conscious. Clean. Curated.™