Seasonal Summer Food

Eating foods in season is a great thing to consider.

There are a number of reasons why this is a good idea not just in the summer but also all year round. It means foods are cheaper as you avoid paying a premium for them being shipped long distances.

Seasonal foods are fresher and tend to be tastier and more nutritious as well.

For example, have a look at this list of UK Summer seasonal foods. There will be an equivalent list wherever you are.

Try something new or that you have not eaten in a while and incorporate it into a more familiar meal. For example if you normally eat chicken, why not try lamb, or replace you usual tuna steak with some sardines.

Experiment with:

Protein

• Beef

• Lamb

• Rabbit

• Cod

• Crab

• Dover sole

• Haddock

• Halibut

• Herring

• Lemon sole

• Mackerel

• Monkfish

• Plaice

• Prawns

• Red mullet

• Salmon

• Sardines

• Scallops

• Sea bass

• Sea bream

• Sea trout

Vegetables

• Broccoli

• Carrots

• Artichoke

• Aubergine

• Beetroot

• Broad beans

• Chillies

• Courgettes

• Cucumber

• Fennel

• French beans

• Garlic

• Salad leaves

• Mange tout

• Onions

• Peas

• Peppers,

• Potatoes

• Radishes

• Rocket

• Spring onions

• Sweetcorn

• Tomatoes

• Mushrooms

Fruit

• Blueberries

• Cherries

• Plums

• Raspberries

• Strawberries

Herbs

• Basil

• Chives

• Coriander

• Oregano

• Mint

• Parsley

• Rosemary

• Sage

• Tarragon

• Thyme

Everyone loves a Barbeque

Barbeques are the perfect activity as soon as the sun comes out and a great way to hang out with friends and family during the summer. Food on skewers is a fun and convenient way to cook.

Try these tasty combinations:

• Firm white fish, cherry tomatoes and olives

• Cubed lamb steaks, haloumi cubes and red onion

• Fresh salmon, lime slices and cooked potato chunks

• Marinated tofu, mushrooms and sliced courgette

• Mini meatballs, tomato chunks, chunks of capsicum

• Strawberries, nectarines and plums

Vegetables taste extra delicious when cooked on a barbeque so why not slice up some courgettes, capsicums, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes and pumpkin, drizzling a little bit of olive oil over them and cooking them on a grill plate for 10-15 mins or until tender. Corn on the cob, garlic and asparagus also taste great barbequed!