A simple and often easy choice is vegetables. Especially this time of year, they are fresh from your local farms and usually available at local farm stands.

There is nothing like freshly picked tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash. Fresh corn on the cob is so good grilled, you don’t even need to add butter to it. Cucumbers plain are great, but pour some seasoned rice vinegar over them and let them marinate for a few hours, it makes them delicious!

Tomatoes, well I can’t say enough about tomatoes, sliced up with a little bit of salt, that is all I need. However, for a meal, cut up a few large tomatoes, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil, salt to taste and a bunch of freshly chopped basil. I put this over 2 slices of lowfat/lo-cal bread with an ounce of either low fat or full fat mozzarella. It makes a fantastic lunch and it’s filling.

Are you getting this? EAT YOUR VEGGIES! Vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants to help ward off chronic diseases. Vegetables provide a terrific low calorie, high fiber snack that is packed with nutrients. How do you get in your 5 a day? Share some ideas with me. Keep veggies all around you, they do a body and a mind good.

I make a big pot of ratatouille, I use spaghetti squash, onions, peppers, garlic, zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes and tomato sauce (Pastene). I cook it all together with Italian seasonings (fresh now that I have an herb garden) and it is delicious. It’s great with a meal, as a meal with some protein and as a snack when I am hungry in the middle of the day.

Don’t want to cut up the veggies yourself? Then call your local store and order a veggie tray for tomorrow. You will have fresh, clean, and ready to eat vegetables. They will be great raw or you can use them in a stir fry or throw them on your grill with some spices. Choose Vegetables! Choose healthy!