hands cutting lemon on a wooden board with mango and carrots

Oh, how I love summer…

If you don’t live in the tropics, these precious summer months are all too fleeting and absolutely the best time to eat, drink and be happy! I thought I would share a few of my favourite  summery things to help you enjoy the last half of summer to its fullest!

Eat local!

Spend a leisurely morning or evening at a farmer’s market. For Vancouver, find times and locations here. For British Columbia, click here and for the US, try Local Harvest.

To find out which locally grown foods are in season in British Columbia, check out Farm Folk, City Folk’s Knowledge Pantry. While you’re at it, buy your tickets to go hang out at Feast of Fields – FFCF’s awesome fundraiser that involves strolling through a field packed with local delicacies.

Dine alfresco

There is nothing better than a summer picnic and if you need some inspiration for a plant-powered summer feast, try this!

We are a beach/park family and I like to keep my son slathered in this totally non-toxic sunscreen by the awesomely named, Green Beaver. Get the spray as it is less sticky than the lotion.

Make something tasty

Treats can actually be healthy…and then you can eat them more often! Here is an ingenious recipe for ‘ice cream’ made of bananas…wish I had thought of it first!

While the sun is still here, put that solar power to use and make sun tea. Stay cool as a cucumber with this refreshing smoothie.

Rethink kale – make one of my favourite kale salads, from my guru Dr Andrew Weil’s new cookbook, True Food.

A little foodie summer reading

I just finished reading the inaugural issue of Cherry Bombe magazine cover to cover – it is a title that celebrates women in food. Totally amazing! I have just picked up my copy of Eating on the Wild Side and next in line is the copy of Salt, Sugar, Fat that has been sitting on my bookshelf. Too much to read…too little time!

Hope you are enjoying these sweet days of summer…