Dancing or eating, Salsa is the breath of summer! Life is livelier, more colorful. Food is tastier. Zesty salsa can spice up your meals while it improves your health and make it even easier for you to Salsa!

Salsa is not just for dipping! Put it in salads, add it to sandwiches, mix it with rice or beans or veggies, perk up meat. Liven up your food and your body at the same time by adding more fruits and veggies to your meals. HOW? Fruits and vegetables have a lot of antioxidants that keep your body "running" smoothly. Antioxidants act as the body's tiny cleaning crew.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: Our bodies are constantly working to generate energy. As the body works, it also produces "free radicals." Like emissions from your car engine, "free radicals" are tiny waste products from creating energy. Needless to say, you want to get rid of them. If you don't, your body won't be working well and you won't feel your best. You can even increase your risk of serious illness! Antioxidants in fruits & veggies can "clean out" those free radicals and can help improve the way you feel.

Give your meals some extra zest while you give your body an extra boost with a variety of Salsas. Different antioxidants clean out different free radicals. The more you vary your fruits and vegetables, the more colorful and flavorful your meals will be! AND the more "free radicals" you clean out!

Grab a variety of fruits & veggies at a Harvest Home market near you and try different salsa mixtures. Here's a basic recipe. For new ideas see below. Salsa is an easy way to add more fruits, veggies, and healthy flavor to your meals.

RECIPES: Just to Give You Some Ideas

Peach-Tomato Salsa: Adds zip to chicken or grilled meat with this sweet treat!

Mix together & chill for ½ hour

• 1 lb tomatoes, diced

• 1 bell pepper (4 oz), seeded and finely diced

• 2 jalapenos, seeded and finely diced

• 1 medium onion, finely diced

• 1 ½ lbs peaches, diced

• 1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

• 2 Tbsp lime juice

• 1 ½ tsp salt, or to taste

• ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper or to taste

NOTE: Slightly larger chunks of peaches make them stand out. No need to peel them. You won't notice the peels and the color is prettier.

Jicama Salsa: Zesty in a salad by itself or add 2 tablespoons olive oil & 2 tablespoons vinegar to make a salad dressing.

Mix together

• 1 small jicama, chopped & diced (about a cup)

• 8 radishes diced

• ¾ cup of peeled & diced cucumber

• 2 tablespoons diced red onion

• ¾ teaspoon ground arbol chile

• 2 teaspoons fresh basil

• 2/3 teaspoon salt

Melon Salsa: Refreshing with chips or on fish or chicken or tossed into a salad.

• 1 ½ cups chopped red onion

• 1 cup chopped cantaloupe

• 1 cup chopped watermelon

• 1 tomato, seeded and chopped

• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

• ¼ cup fresh lime juice

• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

TIPS: Get Creative with Your Salsa

Eat your fruits & veggies raw for the best taste AND the most health benefits.
The more variety of ingredients, the more help you give your body. So mix things up for flavor & health. Add extra ingredients to any salsa recipe.
Don't be confused. Antioxidants have different names (carotenoids, lycopene, flavonoids, to mention a few) because different antioxidants do different "cleaning jobs."

Antioxidants Power in Fruits & Veggies

• Tomatoes have lycopene for bone health & fight heart disease.

• Melons have extra water you need in the summer, plusantioxidant vitamin C. Great for your skin.

• Cucumbers have antioxidants that help your immune system & are good for skin & eyes.

• Blueberries are the super fruit of antioxidants. They cleanout & protect all your systems.

• Avocados aren't just delicious, they are powerful: 20 vitamins, minerals, antioxidants that protect your eyes & healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

• Peppers give you more carotenoids and vitamin C. great for your skin

• Carrots have carotenoids that protect your eyes & skin. GREAT for dipping into salsa.

• Dark green leafy vegetableshave Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps the immune system fight off disease. Wrap up some salsa in a big leaf!

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