Great ways to stay healthy during the summer

By Fernando Franco
CJ Contributor

School is out and summer is in – the perfect time to explore recipes that include in-season fruits and vegetables. There are many ways to keep your kids healthy during summer vacation that are still fun and exciting, while using fresh fruits and vegetables that are readily available. Be sure to stay hydrated, get the right vitamins and nutrients to stay energized and keep meals and snacks light and tasty.

Here in Trinidad, we have an abundance of healthy foods that the whole family can enjoy. One dish that Trinidadians love is chow – a simple, refreshing snack consisting of fresh fruits, garlic, herbs and spices. A few of the ingredients include pineapple or mango as a base, garlic, cilantro, lime, scotch bonnet pepper with a sprinkle of salt and black pepper. The mixture of all of these flavors dance on your tongue – sweet, salty, sour and spicy. If a dish like this is too complex for your children, you can always make your own version of it, using less of the intense spices.

For some healthy food shopping, we head over to markets that sell a variety of fruits, vegetables and seasonal seafood to take home. I love to stop at the Green Market on Saturdays to check out the local products and goods that are available. Mangoes are abundant during summer as well as avocados, amongst others. We are also lucky to have papaya, watermelons and pineapples available throughout the year. If you cut these fruits into very small pieces, your kids will be sure to enjoy them. Freezing fruits such as mangoes is also a great way to eat them, especially on a hot summer’s day.

Another healthy snack that kids will love is a smoothie! Not only do smoothies keep them hydrated and replenish the nutrients in their bodies, but they are also extremely tasty.

I turned to the beverage department for their most popular smoothies that both kids and adults alike can enjoy. Many thanks to the beverage team for supplying the recipes.

Hyatt Green Smoothie

Ingredients

Fresh Spinach

Local Bananas

Fresh Strawberries

Golden Pear

Local coconut Water

Savannah Breeze Pineapple

Smoothie

Ingredients

Fresh Local Pineapples

Rose Grapes

Red Apples

Fresh Local lime juice

Fernando Franco is Executive Chef at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.