I’m sure everyone has figured out by now, the heat has officially turned on this summer. It’s time to freshen up with some delicious fruits and veggies that really help lower your body temperature and keep you nice and hydrated. The raw food diet is probably the most ideal diet for the summer, since everything delicious is in season, it has a lower price and there is no need to turn on the hot stove or oven to prepare a delicious meal. Nature provides a great deal of food at this time of year to help us stay fresh and nourished. Many fruits and vegetables that have a shorter season, such as summer squash, cucumbers, and melons, reach their full glory during the hottest months and have the most cooling effect. Some refreshing veggies include crisp lettuce, mixed greens, celery, crisp sunflower greens and sprouts, and broccoli, which are great salad sides. Snack on some fresh corn in your summer salads too, I’ve certainly been enjoying it lately. For a light dressing, try a high-quality extra virgin olive oil like bariani, and our new coconut vinegar and coconut amino acids. Combine with fresh chopped herbs and a pinch of salt and our salad is raw and ready to go.

Try to get high levels of juicy fruits during the summer. Melons of all kinds are amazing, watermelon is especially refreshing for the system. Also try different varieties such as galia, crenshaw, canary, Tucson cantaloupe and casaba. Some of these melons are so sweet, so delicate in taste and texture that they almost melt in your mouth. Keep the melons in the refrigerator once they are ripe to avoid spoiling and increase their cooling effect on the body. Be sure to load up on plenty of tomatoes, fresh bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and yellow summer squash, too, as these are refreshing fruits that will make great bases for tasty meals when the fruit isn’t in the right place. You can make veggie chips out of summer squash simply by marinating them in a little olive oil, salt, and herbs and dehydrating until crisp. Plus, one of my best summer foods is zucchini pasta, which is so light and flavorful that even your cook-food friends will be surprised it’s raw and so easy to make. Ideal for family and summer meals.

These are just a few of my favorite summer recipes:

Cilantro Lime Watermelon Juice- (Brrr … this juice IS SURE to cool you down quickly)

1 / 3-1 / 2 of an organic seedless watermelon, chilled in the fridge. Rinse the outer crust well because it will also juice the crust. The rind of the watermelon has a very mild flavor and contains a lot of minerals, and it will help balance the sweetness of the pulp.
1 handful of fresh coriander
juice of 1 whole lime
3 handfuls of fresh sunflower leaves
Optional- 3 large leaves of lacinto kale (black dino kale)

Squeeze together and serve immediately.

Fresh cucumber and dill soup

3 cucumbers, peeled
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 whole avocado
2 tablespoons fresh dill
2-3 tablespoons of Ruth’s bariani olive oil or hemp seed oil
a few pinches of Bali sea salt to taste

Just mix the above ingredients until very smooth, garnish with some fresh dill and avocado chunks. This soup is incredibly light, refreshing, and yet packed with flax crackers for a light dinner.

No heat pasta

* Spiral of green zucchini and yellow summer squash for a nice color variation

Summer noodles:

2 zucchini, 1 yellow spiral squash

sun-dried tomato sauce:

2 medium heirloom tomatoes
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes: soak for a few hours to soften
1/4 cup bariani olive oil
1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
fresh herbs to taste like oregano, sage, and thyme
A few pinches of Bali sea salt
-Optional- 1 garlic clove (will increase the heat element of this dish)

Hemp seed pesto:

1/4 cup hemp seeds
1/2 cup walnuts
1/4 cup bariani olive oil, hemp oil, or pumpkin seed oil.
1 cup packed basil
1/8 cup lemon juice
A few pinches of Bali sea salt to taste

Optional- 1 clove of garlic.

Both sauces can be mixed until smooth or left a little thick in a food processor, depending on your preference. pour over zucchini noodles, garnish with fresh basil leaves

Follow your body’s natural gravitation toward light, refreshing raw foods this summer to stay balanced and active. Also remember to drink plenty of fresh, pure water along with your fruits and vegetables to ensure that our body is perfectly hydrated even when temperatures rise.