Stay Healthy with Seasonal Summer Foods Milton, Mass. - Summer's coming and it's a great time to be healthy by eating seasonal summer foods. Now is the time to take on the challenge of this past winter's cold and snow. Namely, losing the pounds that those comfort foods packed on. "We are coming into prime time," says registered dietitian Jane Griffin, director of Milton Hospital's Nutrition Therapy Program. "Now is peak time to take advantage of nutritionally rich, low calorie foods like fresh fruits and vegetables." The 2005 Diet Guideline for Americans recommends eating a variety of foods including at least four and a half cups of fruits and vegetables daily. Why should you push yourself to incorporate these into your diet? It's simple, more bang for your buck. Plant foods are low in saturated fat and calories yet rich in fiber and nutrients. Also, plant foods contain phytochemicals, a natural bioactive compound not found in pills or supplements. The phytochemicals, working together with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, can be a powerful health protector. Some of the summer "phyto" foods are apricots, basil, beans, beets, berries, cherries, corn, cucumbers, dates, figs, grapes, mangos, melons, peaches, tomatoes and watermelon. So just how much is one serving of fruits or vegetables? One serving should fit in the palm of your hand. While eating four or more servings a day may seem daunting, there are many creative ways to add them to your meals. For example: · Try a fruit smoothie for breakfast by blending milk or yogurt with bananas, berries and ice. · Put fruit-blueberries, raspberries, strawberries or banana-on your cereal or in your yogurt · Drink a glass of V-8 or tomato juice · Stack veggies-lettuce, tomato, sprouts, onion, avocado-on your sandwich · Add steamed veggies to your pasta dishes or soup · Center your meals on vegetable dishes such as baked eggplant, ratatouille, or stuffed peppers. For new ideas, consult a vegetarian cookbook. · Keep cleaned, prepped raw vegetables on the shelf in the fridge that you look at first. If you aim for four or more servings each day you will protect your body and improve your overall health. For more information about how proper nutrition can help ward off disease, call the Milton Hospital Medical Nutrition Therapy Program at 617-296-4819.

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