Eat These 6 Summertime Foods to Manage Your Weight

Take a look at the calendar, and it’s been about eight months since the big push Jan. 1 to lose weight. How’s it going? If you’ve had some ups and downs, that’s pretty normal. Summer is a great time to recommit to your goal to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. And you can eat some great tasting food to do it.

Add these six summertime fruits and vegetables to your weight loss diet. They’re low in calories, but nutrient dense. That means you’ll get a lot more from eating these foods, than you will from the nearest fast food drive-thru, which will help tip the scale in the right direction.

1. Tomatoes

Grow your own in the garden, or shop local at the grocery store or farmer’s market. There’s lots of different tomato varieties to choose from. And they all contain lycopene. It's what gives a tomato it’s bright color, and it’s an antioxidant that helps prevent and repair cell damage. Try Meatloaf & Tomato Sauce, Brown Rice with Peas & Carrots, or Home-style Meatloaf with Tomato Gravy, Barley Mushroom Risotto & Mixed Vegetables, or slice and dice your own tomatoes.

2. Red bell peppers

Red-bell peppers are another garden favorite to grow. They’re great as a sliced addition to a veggie tray for a summer picnic.Chicken Marsala with Mashed Potatoes.

3. Onions

Want to add a little flavor to a grilled burger, or steak, or some zing to a salad or sandwich? Add some onions. We use onions in many of our Portion Control meals like Beef Bourguignon, Brown Rice & Broccoli, Braised Short Ribs with a Black Bean & Corn Medley or Chicken Marsala with Mashed Potatoes.

4. Zucchini

Grow your own, and this summer squash can take over your garden. Then what? Eat it. But if you can’t keep up, Aug. 8 is National Leave Some Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Doorstep Night. Seriously. Zucchini is low in calories, and helps reduce blood pressure and inflammation. The nutritional properties of zucchini can also help improve digestion, support metabolism, and increase energy.

Try Chicken Meatballs with Spaghetti & Zucchini.

5. Peaches

Did you know the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults eat 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit per day? Are you eating enough? If you’re not try peaches. They’re deliciously sweet, low in calories, and contain fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients your body needs for best health.

6. Pineapple

Here’s another time favorite. It’s sweet and a little sour, and tastes great as a side dish, added to a fruit smoothie, or mixed in with yogurt, without adding too many calories to your meal.

Want to lose weight or manage your weight? Skip the processed and fried foods and sugary drinks and snacks, and aim to eat more fruits and vegetables. They’re low in calories, and most contain fiber to help control hunger and cravings. And a little fruit can satisfy cravings for something sweet without the added calories and fat of many desserts.