Summer is a time for adventure and exploration, for pushing bedtime boundaries and embracing the warmth of the sun. It is a time for joy and laughter, for gathering with friends and family, and for creating memories that will last a lifetime. Summer also brings out the healthiest side of us. Fresh air, healing sunshine, feet in the dirt, produce abounds. It’s glorious. There are several ways to incorporate healthy habits into your daily life at this time of year. My family and I enjoy these wholesome summer pastimes every year.
Grilling vegetables
Using the grill during the summer is so lovely because it keeps the house cool and allows me to cook outside while the kids swim or hang out. It’s not fun to be inside cooking while my family enjoys the summer, so grilling allows both. Among the most incredible things about grilling recipes is that it suddenly opens a wide variety of vegetables my family enjoys. During the winter, I have difficulty getting my crew to eat veggies, but they love them in the summer! My favorite grilled vegetables include:
- Red or green peppers
- Onions
- Asparagus
- Zucchini
- Romaine lettuce
- Mushrooms
- Corn (not technically a veggie, but too tasty to skip)
Outdoor sports
Nothing brings me greater pleasure during the cool summer evenings than being outdoors with my family. When everybody is off their devices, laughing, and working up a sweat, there is something foundational about it. We like to play volleyball, bags, hoops, or pool games with our family. For instance, we recently enjoyed a game of frisbee golf in the park, a great way to have fun outdoors and make memories with each other.
Hikes
We would hike as a family daily if it were up to me. I literally love hiking more than almost anything we do together outside. I often joke that a family who hikes together stays together (for many of the same reasons, as I love playing games together). Almost every state has trails, hills, and even mountains to explore. Have you found yours yet? Here is a great guide to help you get started.
Early morning devotional outside
Outdoor devotional time is one of the best ways to nourish your soul and become closer to God. It allows us to take a break from our everyday, busy lives and spend quality time with the Lord in nature. Whether in the city or the countryside, there are plenty of opportunities to spend time outdoors in a peaceful and reflective environment. There are many ways to spend outdoor devotional time. You can hike, walk around your neighborhood, or even sit in your backyard and enjoy the peace and serenity of being outdoors. No matter how you choose to spend your time, take some time to be still and enjoy God’s creation. This can be a great way to experience a deeper connection with the Lord and to find peace and joy.
Outdoor fires
As a new Midwesterner, summer now means fireflies to me. I remember the first time I saw one, shortly after we moved here. I cried. Like, actually (I know, I’m a dork). It’s just so wonderful to sit outside on summer nights, watching them fly around, listening to chirping, looking at stars, and sitting around a fire with family or friends. It never ceases to amaze me how this time brings us together and creates room for truly fantastic conversations. Even with a small space, you can enjoy a little fire pit to sit with your favorites.
Slushies and Smoothies
Slushies and smoothies are on repeat at my house this time of year. Suddenly everyone craves cold, fresh fruit smoothies, which I am happy to provide! My daughter loves to clip a sprig of mint, basil, or lemon from the herb garden to dress them up a bit. She’s fancy-pants (wink, wink).
These are my family’s favorites:
on this blog post
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