Many of your favorite fruits and vegetables can be eaten raw. Just give them a good rinse in clean water and take a bite! Strawberries, cherries, apples, pears and peaches are delicious in their natural state. After a good washing, you can also enjoy carrots, celery, tomatoes and corn without needing to dirty a pan. (Though you will want to shuck the corn, after all, the good stuff is in those juicy kernels!)
A good wash and a good chop is all you need to bring color and flavor to salads. Start with a base of your favorite greens: romaine lettuce, kale, spinach or cabbage. Add chopped tomatoes, apples, radishes, or a handful of blueberries or grapes.
When you’re ready to heat things up, consider steaming your favorite vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower or carrots just until their color brightens and you can slip in a fork without too much effort. At this stage, they are perfectly al dente which makes them easier to eat while maintaining their peak nutrition.
If you don’t want to turn on the stove on a hot afternoon, try your vegetables on the grill. Zucchini sliced lengthwise, bok choy, and corn all cook quickly on the grill without any additions. If you are feeling adventurous, you can toss the vegetables with a little olive oil, sea salt and your favorite spice before adding to the grill.
While there is definitely an appeal to deep fried foods, you can get the same crispness by using an air fryer instead. This cuts down on the amount of oil used which allows the flavors of your sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts or potatoes to come through.