Well, it’s officially summertime! Thunderstorms in the afternoons, lightning bugs in the evenings, and oh, those summer nights.
While summer is a great season for playing outside, dehydration can sneak up on you. Just because you’re in the water doesn’t mean you’re getting enough of it!
Luckily, Mother Nature’s got your back. Here are three healthy summer treats you have to keep on hand this summer.
Watermelon
Watermelons are at their sweetest and juiciest right now, so the summer is a prime time for seed-spitting contests! And there’s a good reason these fruits have “WATER” in their name – watermelons are made up of 92% water. They make a perfect summer snack, because they provide valuable vitamins AND help to fend off dehydration.
Frozen Grapes
What could be more refreshing than a popsicle on a hot summer day? Well, consider dozens of tiny popsicles! Grapes are another great source of water, and they’re small enough to be the perfect size for outdoor games or hikes. Freeze a baggie overnight and take them with you in the morning – by the time you’re ready for a snack, they’ll be cool and refreshing.
Banana-sicles
You read that right! Bananas are a filling source of potassium, which can help keep muscles healthy. Lucky for you, they’re also fun and delicious! Try freezing a few: peel them, cut them in half, and stick a popsicle stick in the end you cut. If you’re feeling adventurous, melt some chocolate to dip the bananas in before you freeze them. Try some sliced almonds or crushed walnuts for a little added crunch. Then, pop them on a sheet of wax paper and freeze them overnight. They’ll be a perfect late afternoon treat.
There you have it! The snacks you need to be healthy, hydrated, and happy this summer.
What are your favorite summertime treats?
Freezing is also a great way to store berries for the winter. I just bought a case of local blackberries from your Asheville store so I can have smoothies and cobblers all winter long!
@Jen, good point!
Fresh and frozen blueberries are also a treat for summer.
To save your bananas (so they’ll last a little longer before turning brown) – cut each banana away from the common stem. When we used to leave them connected, they would ripen/spoil faster. Now, after they’ve been cut off and separated, they seem to last a bit longer, and seem to ripen with less actual spoilage.
i freeze bananas, blueberries, cranberries (scarf them up during the holidays!), raspberries and blackberries, peaches, strawberries, melon … all of it … and make smoothies each morning with lots of ice, a dollop of plain yogurt, my daily spoon of local honey and a tablespoon of peanut butter … they’re cool, hydrating, totally healthy, and i’m fibered and vitamined up for the day!