This week on More Hip Than Hippie, Dori and I cover some of the moreunusual ways to get the most of the intense summer sun. Take a listen and let me know what you think.

Work WITH The Sun - Not Against It

I think my most favorite tip of the show is to learn a new skill like preparing a raw food meal. I can see many of you pulling back from your monitor, scrunching your face and saying “what is she thinking?” Well…… I’m working to embrace new things and new ways of eating. I’m also working to lose a few pounds and eating raw foods is a darn good place to start. An added bonus is that true raw food recipes don’t require heating up your house (or your grill) to prepare. That keeps your AC unit from working overtime.

Here’s the deal. We’re not talking a simple veggie platter here but rather dishes that integrate raw foods into them. Some of you may profess to eating a true raw food diet where nothing is heated above 116 degrees Farenheit. I’m not quite that diligent. However, I do believe that including raw food dishes into your daily routine can help improve nutrition, health and overall well being. So, what sort of raw food recipes am I talking about? Here are a few to get your brains a thinkin’:  Tomato Cups made from the onslaught of tomatoes that are about to hit your garden, crunchie taco made from avocados and lettuce, and Butternut Squash Soup made with butternut squash and mangoes. Yum.

Now, as I said before, I have no interest in giving up my carnivore status any time soon. But, I will say that I have been working to integrate smaller portions of higher quality meat into my diet while increasing veggies, whole grains like Quinoa and more beans (sorry, honey). Why? I’m 42 and would  like to age gracefully. A good healthy diet will help. I think.

So, check out the show. I’d love to read some of your best tips on working with the sun, not against it, this summer. Bet other readers would like to read them too. Come ‘on, leave a few won’t you?