July Seasonal Produce and What to Do With It
Keeping up with what produce is in season will help you to maintain a nutritious diet, find the tastiest fruits and veggies, and keep your grocery bills lower. July serves up lots of juicy fruits and delicious grilling vegetables to keep you fueled and refreshed for your summer activities. Here are some of the best seasonal produce for July, and what you can do with it:
Avocado
- Avocado is the perfect addition to any smoothie! It will make them unbelievably creamy and decadent, while adding a lot of healthy fats to help keep you full and satisfied. Try mixing it in a smoothie with some summer fruits like mango or pineapple.
- Avocado mousse is an easy and nutrient dense dessert that's perfect for a summer day. You just add avocado to a food processor along with cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and a splash of milk, all adjusted to how chocolatey, sweet, and thick you prefer.
Watermelon
- Watermelon skewers make for an easy and portable appetizer. You just cube a watermelon and add it to skewers with cubed feta or mozzarella cheese. Top with balsamic glaze or some lemon juice and you’re good to go!
Corn
- Grilled corn may be simple but it’s a classic for a reason. The easiest way to make it is to steam or boil the corn first, and then finish them on the grill to add that delicious char to serve at your summer grill party
- Corn salad is a perfect side dish to burgers or grilled chicken. It’s best to char the corn first and then cut it off the cob. Then toss with diced red onion, feta crumbles, and your vinaigrette of choice to match your meal.
Zucchini
- Zucchini is best served grilled, which is convenient that it’s in season in July! Cut it into spears, season with salt and pepper and anything else you like, and throw on the grill last minute before serving
Pineapple
- Grilled or broiled pineapple is the perfect topping for any burger or grilled chicken sandwich! Or you can add the grilled pineapple to the top of a chicken breast and melt some mozzarella cheese over it - super delicious served with barbeque sauce and roasted broccoli!
- Pina colada smoothie! Throw your pineapple in the blender with an avocado (throwback to tip #1) and some coconut milk to your thickness preference. You can also add protein powder, sweetener or a date, vanilla extract, or shredded coconut for texture.
Mango
- Mango parfaits are a great breakfast for busy summer mornings. Mango doesn’t brown as much as other fruits like bananas, so you can meal-prep these parfaits ahead of time. Grab a mason jar and layer vanilla greek yogurt, thin sliced mango, and granola (specifically a granola with lots of nuts and seeds will give this breakfast great staying power) in as many layers as you like. Add in a drizzle of honey or a handful of berries, and enjoy!