Seasonal Summer Foods and Recipes

Summer is now in full effect: June has begun, the sun is shining, and we are more than ready to get our healthy, seasonal summer foods & eats on. Not sure what’s in season this time of year? Use this handy guide to learn what produce you should be eating in the next few months, and how to incorporate it into your diet. Each of these recipes packs a seasonal flavorful punch that will undoubtedly please your summer palate. Let the tossing, mixing, and grilling begin!

Peaches

These fuzzy fruits are in season from May to September. Pick the best of the bunch by sniffing at the skin while grocery shopping — the riper it is, the more fragrant it will smell and the juicier it will taste. The best part about them? They are unexpectedly versatile. Go beyond the classic cobbler and use peaches in savory recipes (like the one featured below), as well.

SEE ALSO 10 More Perfectly Peachy Summer Recipes

Grilled Peach & Chicken Kabobs (via Imma Eat That)

Watermelon

One of the most quintessential summer foods, watermelons are at their peak from mid-June to late August. The best melons are those that are mostly symmetrical, with smooth exteriors. Switch it up and transform the sweet, juicy fruit into a spicy and innovative salad ingredient, as is shown below.

Spicy Watermelon and Avocado Salad (Via Love & Lemons)

Zucchini

Don’t let this green veggie’s high water content fool you — it also contains Vitamins A and C, as well as fiber. Look for it at the supermarket (or better yet, the farmer’s market!) when it’s in season, from June to late August, and incorporate it into any meal of the day. Yes, we even encourage zucchini at breakfast! See how below.

Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (Via Ambitious Kitchen)

Corn

This sweet summer staple is often used as the side dish that rounds out your tasty warm weather meal. How about making the anti-oxidant-packed food into a main dish instead? Use this recipe to take corn from a supporting to a leading role on your dinner plate.

SEE ALSO 10 Mouthwatering Corn on the Cob Recipes

Shrimp and Corn Cakes (via My Recipes)

 Blueberries

What better way to end a summer meal than with these tart little guys, full of Vitamin C and fiber? The best blueberries can be found between June and August, and are powder blue and firm on the surface. Feel free to pop them straight from the container (after washing them, of course!), or get your Martha on and bake them into something decadent and delicious. Try this cake for breakfast, dessert, or splurge snacking.

SEE ALSO 10 Perfectly Healthy Blueberry Pancake Recipes

Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake (Via Alexandra Cooks)

Which summer staple recipe will you try first?

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Images via Thinkstock