Summer is the season for hot days spent outside with the people you love and what better way to celebrate the best time of year than with a barbecue?

Cooking outside on the barbecue is one of the best ways to enjoy the season, especially in the evening when the heat is less intense than in the middle of the day.

Here are some advantages to making the most of the summer with seasonal foods:

– Break the bad habits established during COVID.

During the lockdown stages of the pandemic especially, many of us became accustomed to the routine of staying indoors, remaining stationary on the couch, and eating an abundance of processed foods to avoid contact with others. After over two years of living in an altered world post-pandemic, it is finally safe for us to gather in groups and have regular access to the fresh food at stores and activities we once could. Organizing a barbecue is a great strategy to instill healthier habits by socializing with people you love as you share fresh, seasonal food.

– Gather with friends and family to eat.

Summer is a great opportunity to invite your loved ones over for a shared meal – after all, who can resist a fun gathering with good people and even better food? When it comes to outdoor barbecues, it is typically easier to produce high quantities of food, giving you the ability to feed large groups of people without much extra effort. Although it would just be one meal, your community barbecue might become one of your favorite summer highlights.

– Eat healthier, high-quality meals through seasonal foods.

Maintaining a balanced diet can be difficult with the abundance of unhealthy options available on the market. Eating seasonal foods during the summer is less expensive and also tastes better, giving you an enjoyable experience as you nourish your body with delicious meals. Furthermore, by choosing to cook outside using seasonal ingredients, you are less likely to have processed carbs like rice and pasta and more likely to elect for healthier starches like corn and other vegetables.

Here is our quick guide to cooking jerk fish on the grill:

1. The evening before your barbecue, cover your lean fish in one tablespoon of jerk seasoning (our favorite is the Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning).
2. Marinate overnight for the flavor to seep in.
3. When it is time to cook, wrap the fish in tin foil and place it on the medium part of the grill.
4. Let the fish sit for approximately 10 minutes, depending on the type of fish.

It’s as easy as that! And better yet? The same strategy can be used to cook vegetables, corn, yuca, and more. You can even make jerk crabs by boiling them and then throwing them on the grill!

You can be nourished and fulfilled this summer when you make memories with your loved ones while eating delicious seasonal foods. For more tips to have a healthy summer with optimal nutrition, head to Outrun Gravity to learn more.