If you spent the winter hibernating and enjoying warm comfort foods, the onset of summer is the perfect time to take a hard look at your diet and freshen it up. Summer’s busy days and fresh produce will keep you inspired all summer long to eat and feel your best with a few minor adjustments.

1. Take an honest look at how, when, and what you eat. It’s not uncommon to overindulge during winter’s long, dreary nights at home. Whether you’ve been tracking your food in a food journal or an app on your phone, this is a good time to reflect on not just what you eat, but how much and how often. Can you identify any patterns? Do you tend to snack more on weekends or enjoy too many lunches out with co-workers? Finding even one area for improvement may lead to healthy changes in other areas of your life as well.


2. Think fresh. Summer’s fresh produce not only tastes great, but is convenient to stock up on and healthy to enjoy throughout the day. Check out the local farmers’ markets or your favorite grocery store for the season’s freshest produce. Cleaning and cutting your produce when you get home from the grocery store or market ensures that you have ready to eat, healthy snacks available any time the craving strikes.
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3. Lighten up. If you need a dish for a summer holiday celebration or backyard barbeque, be the guest that brings the light and refreshing dish to pass. Add fresh fruit, fresh produce, or fresh herbs to a healthy salad or side dish to get a taste of summer and a boost of nutrients.


4. Grow your own. Whether you have room in your backyard for a full vegetable garden or just enough room to pot a few herbs on a patio table, growing your own vegetables or herbs adds flavor and nutrients to your homemade dishes. Growing your own herbs is also a cheaper way to experiment with herbs you may not be familiar with, like basil, thyme, or cilantro. Lemon thyme is also a natural mosquito repellent that can be easily thrown in with other herbs to keep the pests away!


5. Blend it up. If you’re short on time but craving a healthy meal in the summer, throwing fresh fruit or spinach into the blender makes a healthy taste of summer smoothie that you can enjoy on the go or at the pool. Avoid adding unnecessary sugar or sweeteners to your smoothie, and instead enjoy the natural sugar burst from your favorite fresh fruit.

Do you notice that your diet changes during the summer? If you have a favorite summer recipe or healthy eating tip, leave it in the comments below for your fellow FitClub members and together we can all enjoy a healthier, fresher summer!