“Nothing says ‘sunshine’ in the kitchen or on a menu like lemon.” ― Lori Longbotham
Since we’re spending the summer in my Sweat Studio talking all sunshine I wanted to talk about some bright and sunny foods perfect for summer! Not only are they YUM but they have some awesome health benefits that you might not even be aware of!
First up are lemons! These citrus fruits are packed with Vitamin C. In fact, one lemon has 31 mg of Vitamin C, which provides you with half of your recommended daily intake. This promotes heart health and your immune system. The fiber found in whole lemons can also help with cardiovascular and digestive health. Lemons’ citric acid can also help prevent kidney stones. Finally, lemons can actually improve your digestion of iron from other plant foods. Pretty neat, huh?
Ok, but who is actually eating an entire lemon every day? Certainly not me. Good thing there are a lot of creative ways to consume lemons that aren’t such a shock to your taste buds. Here’s one to try!
Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
2 medium sized lemons
2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 cup strawberries
4-6 Tbsp maple syrup
1 cup cold water
3 cups ice, plus more as needed
pinch of sea salt or Himalayan salt
*I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t add HOW DELICIOUS would this be with a little vodka and some good friends on a deck laughing somewhere!?!??!
Peel both lemons, remove seeds and chop into chunks.
Blend everything in a blender or food processor to desired consistency.
*Blend longer for a smoother drink and shorter for a chunky/icy drink
You can change this up all summer long, using raspberries or blueberries, and adjusting amounts or types of sweeteners and fruits. Just remember to keep lemons as the main ingredient if you want those amazing benefits!