AUTHOR

MARNIE NITSCHKE Marnie is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who specialises in gastrointestinal nutrition . Find out more at forkthatnutrition . com and follow her on Instagram @ forkthatnutrition .

Find out what delicious summer produce is available and what to do with it .

Summer – wow . We made it through another challenging , weird year and now the weather is really warming up . The festive season is upon us , and with that , many delicious , summery food memories . What summer produce memories do you have ?

Seeing local cherries in the grocery shop always evokes wonderful warm memories for me . There ’ s something about perfectly ripe , deep shiny red cherries that ’ s so luxurious . And like all seasonal produce , they are full of fibre and nutrients . If you ’ re looking for things to do with friends or family , I highly recommend taking a day trip to one of Victoria ’ s picturesque orchards ( like Cherryhill Orchards , Wandin ), where you can pick buckets of your own and bring your own picnic . It ’ s just magic .

Are you a fig fan ? When they ’ re in season ( which is right now ) figs are plentiful and fabulously priced . Their pretty pink flesh makes a stunning visual splash on a cheese platter or grazing plate , and their sweetness comes to the fore even more when roasted or cooked down into jam . Figs are everything summer fruit should be – simple , nutritious and delicious .

Tomatoes are in full swing now , and will be at the top of their flavour and quality during summer and early autumn . Keep an eye out at your local market or fruit and vegetable shop for novel tomato varieties , and try them in your salads , on toast ( bruschetta anyone ?), in ratatouille or a fresh , simple pasta

sauce . Different tomato varieties have varying amounts of acid , water content and texture ( some are firmer , and better for sandwiches ). Favourites you ’ re likely to come across are Grosse Lisse , Tigerella , Sweetie and Black Russian , but I have it on good authority that Doncaster tomatoes ( grown in Templestowe in Melbourne ) are the best .

Have I got you feeling enthused about summer produce yet ? This edition is packed with seasonal food inspiration , including Rebecca Gawthorne ’ s summer stone fruit spread just over the page !

Here ’ s your seasonal summer shopping list to think of when you ’ re planning meals for the week . Because we all know that shopping in season means better tasting , more affordable , and more sustainable eating .

Fruit :

} Stone fruit : apricots , cherries , nectarines , peaches , plums . } Berries : blackberries , blueberries , boysenberries , raspberries , strawberries . } Citrus : grapefruit , lemons and limes , Valencia oranges . } As well as : figs , grapes , melons .

Vegetables :

} Just in : corn , eggplant and tomatoes . Still in season : avocado , beans , beetroot , capsicum , carrots , chilies , cucumber , leek , lettuce , onions , peas , potatoes , rhubarb , silverbeet , spring onion , squash and zucchini .

} Summer herbs and spices : basil , chervil , chives , chilli , coriander , ginger , garlic , lemongrass , mint , oregano , parsley , rosemary , sage , tarragon and thyme .

For more summer produce inspiration , look out for these recipes

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YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE 3