Summer Vegetables to Enjoy

Vegetables are packed with beneficial nutrients that children and adults both need. Find out the best summer vegetables to enjoy this year! 

Key Takeaways: 

• Learn the best summer vegetables to enjoy with your family. 
• Find out which summer vegetables work best with other foods and in recipes. 
• Learn about the nutritious benefits of summer vegetables. 

Enjoy delicious, fresh summer vegetables with the whole family this summer! 

Table of Contents: 

1. Explore In-Season Veggies This Summer 
2. The Best Summer Vegetables to Enjoy Under the Sun 
3. Tasty Grilled Veggies 
4. Getting Extra Veggies Into Your Summer Lunches 
5. Green Smoothies: Pack Your Blended Drinks With Vegetables
6. Health Benefits of Summer Vegetables
7. Keep Your Body Healthy With Yummy Summer Vegetables 

Explore In-Season Veggies This Summer 

Summer brings cookouts, barbecues, and plenty of delicious new recipes to the table. 

One way to get your nutrients in is to incorporate fresh summer vegetables into your meals and smoothies. 

Summer vegetables will taste better when they’re in season. 

This is because they don’t have to travel as far and can even be grown locally, reducing the chances of spoiling and rotting. 

You may think of fruit when you picture the perfect summer snack, but veggies are just as important. 

Many summer vegetables contain antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to thrive. 

You can find summer vegetables to enjoy at your local farmer’s markets or in nearby grocery stores. 

Browse the selections and see what vegetables tickle your fancy this summer! 

The Best Summer Vegetables to Enjoy Under the Sun 

Not sure where to start? We’ve provided a comprehensive list of summer veggies to indulge in this year. 

Some of the tastiest, most nutritious summer vegetables include: 

• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Corn
• Okra 
• Eggplant
• Zucchini 
• Bell peppers 
• Carrots 
• Beets 
• Asparagus 
• Lettuce 

These are just a few summer vegetable options as you explore new recipes and peruse fruit and veggie trays at cookouts. 

Tasty Grilled Veggies 

Most people grill out more often over the summer. It’s important to have a wealth of vegetables to include on the grill, ensuring everyone gets their daily servings in. 

If you want to put together veggie skewers, whether you include meat or not, it’s important to chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces. 

Some of the best options to do this with are bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and onions. 

For those guests who want single sides consisting of only one vegetable, grilled asparagus and grilled corn both make the cut. 

In fact, grilled corn is a well-loved summer treat across America! 

Vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, corn, and asparagus develop a nice char after cooking on the grill. 

This is attractive to cookout guests, who yearn for the summertime flavors of grilled foods. 

Getting Extra Veggies Into Your Summer Lunches 

Whether you’re making a sandwich or fresh salad for lunch this summer, you can still get your daily servings of veggies in. 

Many summer vegetables make wonderful sandwich and salad toppings with their high water content, which gives them that refreshing crunch you desire. 

When making your next sandwich or wrap, include cucumbers and tomatoes. You can also stuff your dish with leafy greens, like spring mix, spinach, or kale. 

Salads usually include ingredients like fresh diced onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, and radishes. 

Not only do these summer veggies taste great, but they also increase your fiber and vitamin intake during this season. 

Green Smoothies: Pack Your Blended Drinks With Vegetables 

Many people enjoy ice-cold smoothies during the summertime. They offer a refreshing blend of sweet fruits and other tasty ingredients. 

You can sneak some veggies into your delicious smoothies by including leafy greens in the mix. 

You probably won’t be able to taste the greens, but they can change the color of your smoothie, reinforcing your summertime healthy habits. 

Beets are another great addition to your smoothie. They’ll make the color a bright, beautiful pinkish purple, which adds to the summer fun. 

While blending veggies is a good option, you should still include plenty of whole fruits and vegetables in your summer diet. 

Blending them can diminish some of the fiber that improves your digestion and regulates your blood sugar. 

Health Benefits of Summer Vegetables 

Why should you include summer veggies in your diet? Vegetables are full of beneficial nutrients and are believed to be natural anti-aging foods. 

Fiber 

Whole, fresh vegetables contain more fiber than processed and refined foods. Fiber is essential for keeping your digestion regular and preventing sudden blood sugar spikes. 

Fiber acts as a filtration net for sugar moving toward your bloodstream. 

Without enough fiber, all the sugars you consume go straight into your system, which can cause health problems over time. 

The fiber in delicious summer vegetables also keeps you full and satisfied for a long time. 

You don’t have to worry about getting hungry just an hour or two after eating if you incorporate plenty of fiber. 

Vitamins and Minerals

Everyone needs a certain amount of each vitamin and mineral every day to stay healthy. 

Vegetables are packed with beneficial vitamins and minerals, more so than packaged and processed foods. 

Some important nutrients vegetables contain include vitamin A, potassium, zinc, and vitamin C. 

All of these vitamins and minerals boost your immunity and keep your body generally healthy. 

Antioxidants 

Antioxidants are key to keeping your tissues healthy as you age. 

They combat oxidative stress, which occurs when you have too many free radicals floating around in your system. 

Vegetables contain natural antioxidants that help with anti-aging and summer beauty. 

If you want to look and feel your best this summer, vegetables are one tool to achieve these goals. 

Keep Your Body Healthy With Yummy Summer Vegetables 

You only get one body, so it’s important to take care of it all year long. 

When summer rolls around, you might be tempted to indulge in unhealthy treats, and vegetables help curb those cravings and keep you on track.