How to Create a Summer Fruit Salad

When the weather gets hot, no one wants to heat up the oven. Summer fruit salads are a good way to stay cool, healthy and nourished just when you need it most. Here are some ideas on how to create the perfect salad for you.

Fruit Salads for Lunch

Fruit salads are not necessarily like traditional salads but they can be just as filling. It all depends on the type of fruits that you include in your creation.

Fiber is your friend. There are several summer fruits that contain a boatload of fiber. As you know fiber fills you up and also helps to flush fat from your digestive system. To boost your intake, include fruits like apples, pears, berries, guava and kiwi. All would make a nice addition to your salad.

Try sweet summer fruits. Many types have natural sweetness that can satisfy even the pickiest sweet tooth. These can be your base for your salad. Suggestions: peaches, nectarines, watermelon and strawberries.

Have you heard the adage, "Too much of a good thing..."? That applies to fruit as well. So you get the sweet taste but not too syrupy especially for a meal, add some tangy citrus fruit to your salad. Suggestions: oranges, pineapples, tangerines, lemons and limes.

Some fruits can turn brown quite easily when exposed to air. Your creation might lose its appeal if the flesh looks mottled when it comes time to eat it. Try tossing your fruit with lemon juice to keep it from going brown after being cut.

To put your summer fruit lunch salad together, start with your favorite greenery. Some use lettuce leaves or kale or turnip greens. This keeps the juice with the fruit so it stays juicy from the time you serve it up until the last bite.

Cut the chosen fruit into cubes. Some fruits can be sliced with the skin on for better nutrition. Toss your fruit with a citrus juice to keep it fresh. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Fruit Salad for Dessert

Fruit doesn't have to be eaten as is for dessert. Liven things up a bit so that everyone will want more. Start with a lunch fruit salad and add a dressing. This is not your vegetable salad dressing. Think sweet and tangy and delicious.

Here are some ideas for toppings and dressings for your summer fruit salad:

• Yogurt and orange juice

• Brown sugar, orange juice, lemon juice, vanilla extract

• Sugar, cream cheese, lemon juice

• Yogurt and honey

Dressings can be served on the side or poured over the fruit salad. Toppings with brown sugar can be boiled to create syrup. Toss it with the fruit. Either way, you create a tasty dessert for a hot summer night. Beware of the extra calories you are adding too.

Want an alternative to a heavy meal this summer? Try a summer fruit salad for lunch and/or dessert.