Vegetables during summer months

Vegetables like zucchini, greens, tomatoes, pea pods and beets that grow especially well in summer are not only super nutritious but also low in calories, and such vegetables should ideally be eaten in abundance when they are freely available. Red, orange and yellow vegetables like pumpkin, butternut squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, papaya and peppers are loaded with vitamin A and vitamin C, vital antioxidants. Another vegetable that grows during summer is carrots. Carrots are rich in vitamin A and intake of carrots benefit the heart, skin and eyes. Tomatoes is another vegetable that thrives on summer, and is a good option on account of its high water content and Vitamin A and lycopene. Tomato and tomato based foods such as tomato sauce, and tomato ketchup are therefore good options during summer months.

No selection of summer vegetable is complete without incorporating “:cool” cucumber. Cucumber is rightly called cool as it is about 20% cooler than other vegetables. A chilled or fresh cucumber slice in salads or vegetables truly refreshes one on hot summer days.