The Wisdom of Summer: Nourishment, Nature, and New Adventures

Summer is a vibrant, expansive season—a time of light, energy, growth, and play. In nature and in our lives, it represents a time of fruition, abundance, and vitality. As the earth reaches its peak of warmth and brightness, so too do we. This is the time to awaken your senses, nourish your body with vibrant seasonal foods, and align your lifestyle with the wisdom of nature.

The Rhythm of SeasonalEating

Eating with the seasons is a foundational principleof a sound nutritional lifestyle. Each season brings a perfect array of foods designed to support our bodies in just the right way. Summer is no exception. When we eat in harmony with nature’s rhythms, we create balance in body, mind and spirit—a beautiful cyclical dance of nourishment and vitality.

In Ayurveda, summer is known as the Pitta season, governed by the fire and water elements. It’s a time when heat naturally builds within and around us. If we don’t take care to stay cool—physically and emotionally—we can experience symptoms of Pitta imbalance like irritability, agitation, inflammation, and burnout. The antidote? Cooling foods, relaxed schedules, joyful activities,and deep appreciation for the season’s gifts.

Summer Foods: Cooling,Light, and Energizing

Mother Nature provides exactly what we need to balance summer’s heat: water-rich fruits, leafy greens, juicy vegetables, and refreshing herbs. These foods hydrate, cool, cleanse and energize us without weighing us down.

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Summer is the season for higher-energy eating,thanks to increased sunlight and activity. We naturally crave more carbohydrates—and luckily, the fruits and vegetables available now are beautifully blood-sugar balancing and low-glycemic. Think berries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, cucumbers, and greens.

The best summer foods are:

• Cooling: cucumbers, leafy greens, celery, coconut, watermelon
• Astringent: green beans, cabbage, asparagus, peas
• Sweet: stone fruits, berries, carrots, beets
• Bitter: arugula, kale, dandelion greens, radishes

Summer is also the time to reduce foods that heatthe body: excess red meat, spicy, salty and sour foods, fried or fatty dishes,black tea, alcohol, coffee, and overly processed items. Even dairy (exceptyogurt) can create excess internal heat.

Embrace the Local Harvest

This is the best time to shop local and eat local. Farmers’ Markets and health food stores overflow with an abundance of Alberta and BC’s finest produce. Eating locally not only supports your community and the environment—it enhances your health by bringing your body into harmony with your surroundings.

SummerFruits & Veggies to Celebrate:
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Apricots, Asparagus, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage,Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Cherries, Corn, Cucumbers, Field Tomatoes, Green Beans, Lettuce, Nectarines, New Potatoes, Peas, Peaches, Plums, Radishes,Raspberries, Rhubarb, Saskatoon Berries, Spinach, Strawberries, Yellow (wax)Beans

Sample Summer Day of Nourishment

• Morning: Water with 2oz liquid aloe vera (George’s aloe vera); herbed scrambled eggs with basil, dill, chives
• Snack: Seasonal berries with organic yogurt and hemp seeds
• Lunch: Big leafy salad with chickpeas, chicken or fish, drizzled with hemp oil and lemon
• Afternoon: Fresh fruit with pumpkin seeds, veggies with hummus, coconut water with mint and lime
• Dinner: Grilled protein and summer veggies; enjoy baby potatoes occasionally

Drinks: Cucumber or lemon-infused water, home-brewed iced tea, aloe vera juice, coconut water

Treat: A joyful ice cream or gelato to nourish the soul or fresh berries with dark chocolate and shredded coconut!

The Lifestyle of Summer: Pause, Play, and Reflect

Summer is not just about food—it’s about living in rhythm with the season’s energy. It’s time to slow down, play, laugh, and reconnect with what brings you joy. Take a break from structure, deadlines and “doing.” Overworking and overbooking can lead to physical and emotional burnout, especially in this fire-dominant season.

Practice the wisdom of summer:

• Play, swim, nap, hang in a hammock
• Walk barefoot in the grass
• Meditate, do yoga, sing, write, dance
• Take a spontaneous trip to the mountains or lake
• Reflect on what you’ve accomplished so far this year
• Try something new—especially in your diet

As one of my clients beautifully realized: trying new foods created a ripple of adventure in her life. When we break patterns on our plates, we often break patterns in our minds and hearts too.

Vitamin D: Soak Up the Sunshine

Summer is the time to naturally boost your Vitamin D levels. Many of us in the northern regions are deficient due to long winters and indoor living. Vitamin D is essential for bone health, mood, immune function and more. Spend time outdoors in the morning and late afternoon without sunscreen or sunglasses to allow safe, unobstructed sun exposure. Let the sun nourish your spirit and fuel your health.

This Summer, I Invite You To…
Eat the foods of the earth.
Soak in the sun and the stillness.
Be playful and spontaneous.
Try something new.
Celebrate how far you’ve come.
And above all… be grateful for the perfection of Mother Nature’s glorious bounty.

Enjoy a balanced, adventurous, and deeply nourishing summer!

Yours in health & vitality

Amy

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