Three Foods I'm Eating This Summer

I always eat differently in the summer than in other seasons, less and lighter in response to the body already holding more heat. This makes summer a fun time, too, to experiment with new recipes and foods, three of which I will share with you.

Broccoli Sprouts

There are as many versions of sprouts as there are seeds, but my pick is specifically broccoli because, other than adding a pleasant crunch in a meal, they have exceptionally high levels of sulforaphane, which are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and potentially anti-tumor compounds. Additionally, they are loaded with vitamins and other nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, and iron.

I’ve been getting my broccoli sprouts from the supermarket and the brand is Jonathan Sprouts, but there is never enough on the shelf for me to buy, so I am considering growing them at home. (all the news recently about parasites in lettuce makes me want to take control of my own food supply, and what better “green” food to easily grow as an apartment dweller than broccoli sprouts?).

Some companies I’m looking to buy a kit from are The Sprouting Company and Go Micro Fresh.

Bone Broth

Generally, it is advised by traditions such as Ayurveda which comes out of India, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, to eat cooler foods in the summer and warmer ones in the winter, but I am making an exception and breaking this rule. (As long as I don’t super-boil my bone broth, and I don’t feel like I’ve finished a sauna session after sipping, I don’t consider it too heating). This is why I love bone broth so much.

I wanted a source of protein to begin my morning when I don’t necessarily want to consume a traditionally dense protein. (even eggs at times are too much for me first thing in the morning). This fills me up in a good way.

Bone broth is excellent for those (I would say, most in Western society) who have inflammation, especially the gut (think: leaky gut syndrome and a weak intestinal barrier that makes nutrient absorption an issue). I have personally seen improvements in this realm and weight loss, too.

Collagen and gelatin rich, which improve bones and joint function as well as skin health (sipping bone broth while doing at at-home facial, now that’s the kind of multi-tasking that is relaxing!).

I have traditionally used popular brand Kettle and Fire, but the box is too large and I don’t like leftovers, so I have transited to single-pack Brodo, which I actually like better. I use the Turmeric and Ginger version (more heat, oh no!) but there are many more to choose from.

Tuna

Whenever I think of tuna, I laugh because of the Chicken of the Sea “incident” in the 2000s and the resulting memes, but, all kidding aside, I’ve been a late-bloomer to this fish, and it had mostly to do with taste, as I found most tuna to be rather dry. I also was very keen on only eating tuna that was farmed consciously and contained very low levels of mercury (generally, I don’t eat fish because of this latter point).

I found what I was looking for in Natural Catch Yellowfin Tuna Fillets. It is non-GMO, low in mercury, and contains organic virgin olive oil, water, vegetable broth, and sea salt. It is also the only tuna I’ve tasted that melts in my mouth and is actually a joy to eat, with a little side of sprouts. A great source of protein and excellent non-perishable to store in the home for all of you preppers out there, too.

Bon appetite!