Nourishing Your Body and Mind

Can you believe that summer is coming to an end! However, it is not over yet. While fruit and vegetables make a great snack any time of year, there is nothing better than chilled juicy watermelon on a hot day. The summer is also the perfect time to fire up the grill and roast some tasty vegetables.

You may choose to buy your produce from a supermarket or from the local farmers’ market. Keep in mind, if you are buying produce that are not in season, you can check out the frozen aisle. Many produce are picked at the peak of their season and frozen to maintain freshness. Either way, the important thing is that you eat them!

While you are increasing your fruit and veggie intake to better your body, don’t forget to nourish your soul. There are simple practices you can incorporate into your daily life to prioritize your mental health.

3 Health Benefits of Eating Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are not only key components to a well-balanced diet, but they are also flavorful and delicious. If it’s not the taste that wins you over, perhaps knowing the health benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables will get you to eat more:

High in Fiber: Many fruits and vegetables boast a high amount of fiber, which means they are great at keeping your digestive system healthy as well as keeps you full for longer. Fruits like berries, and vegetables like broccoli, are great options if you are looking to increase your fiber intake.

Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: There is evidence that suggests that a high intake of fruits and vegetables can lead to a reduced risk of developing conditions such as heart disease or stroke. This is attributed to a variety of micro and macronutrients that aid in heart functions.

Eye Health: Many fruits and vegetables contain Vitamin A, which plays a crucial role in maintaining eye health. Carrots are particularly high in Vitamin A, but sweet potatoes, winter squash, and cantaloupe are rich in Vitamin A as well.

4 Tips on How You Can Add Fruits and Vegetables to Meals

It can sometimes be difficult to incorporate fruits and vegetables into meals, but it is so important to do so because of their amazing benefits. Here are just some easy ways you can add more to your diet:

Add Fruit Toppings: Adding berries or bananas to your everyday oatmeal or yogurt will not only enhance the flavor, but you will get in those extra antioxidants and other nutrients to help fuel you throughout the day.

Raspberry Applesauce: Applesauce is quite easy to make at home and allows you to add more tasty ingredients you couldn’t find at the store. You can throw in a handful of raspberries for a touch of added flavor.

Dig into Dip: A great snack for all ages is carrots and hummus. What is great about hummus is that you can buy it in a variety of flavors and choose any easy-to-dip vegetable to pair it with.

Make a Summer Fruit Salad: Adding seasonal fruit to your favorite salad adds the sweetness that it needs. Load in all your ingredients of choice and you have yourself a perfect salad with fruits and veggies alike!

Focusing on Your Mental Health

It can be very easy to focus on keeping your body healthy yet neglect your emotional and mental health. Give yourself some grace! Here are some useful steps you can take when focusing on your mental health:

Turn your stress into positive energy: Stress occurs in the body naturally. Learn how to transform your adrenaline rush into something positive. Think outside the box at work, at home, and in life in general. Try mindful breathing, yoga, or even going for a walk!

Build a lifestyle around love, laughter, and care: Love the people that are in your life, and you will discover things about them you never knew before. Laugh your day away at all the silly unexpected things that come your way. Care for yourself and others; you never know who is looking and how people can care for you in return.

Try something new: It does not have to be something extreme. Maybe there is a new workout class you have wanted to try, or you wanted to start painting or learn to play a musical instrument. Sometimes new passions come from unexpected places. Trying something new can give your life renewed motivation or provide an escape from stressful times.

Let food be your friend, not your foe!While every parent would love to feed their family a deluxe dinner every night, it is not always possible. It is okay to order a pizza occasionally. Don’t let food become your enemy. There is room for a variety of foods in your diet, including fun foods.

The summer is not over yet, there is still plenty of time for you to increase your produce intake while also working on your mental health!