This week we'll explore cucamelons and a nourishing cherry cacao smoothie recipe. We'll also delve into the story of some very hungry hummingbirds and thoughts about why you might want to try paddleboarding.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: CUCAMELONS

For the past few weeks, I've been living for one of my favorite seasonal treats: cucamelons! These delightful, adorable little fruits look like watermelons but they're only the size of grapes. They taste like cucumbers, although a bit more sour.

What can you do with them? Aside from popping them in your mouth whole, I've been adding them to salads and even used them as a topping for my go-to lemon hummus (see the photo below). They're especially great on a snack board since they're pretty and unique, plus they have a super satisfying crunch.

Although I'm smitten with cucamelons and I hope you'll be able to get your hands on some this season, my point here is broader than just cucamelons. Nature gives us such an incredible array of beautiful fruits and veggies, and yet many people just eat the same handful over and over. Diversifying the fruits and veggies you consume is a good way to get different vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in your diet. Additionally, a varied range of fiber sources fosters a healthy gut microbiome.

So, this week, I challenge you to find a new-to-you veggie or fruit and try it out. Let me know if you manage to get your hands on anything really cool or weird. Nothing makes me more excited than finding a new, tasty plant!

Special Recipe: CHERRY CACAO SMOOTHIE

Is there any better pairing than cherries with chocolate? This special smoothie recipe celebrates the iconic duo by combining refreshing, juicy cherries with deeply flavored cacao. It's rich in fiber and plant-based protein and is low in sugar and carbs thanks to a surprising base of frozen cauliflower. It also contains abundant antioxidants from both the cherries and cacao.

Curious about using veggies in smoothies? Then I think you'll love my e-book, Blend the Rainbow. It contains eight colorful smoothies that are based in vegetables rather than fruit. You can explore the e-book here (it's $5).

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ c frozen cauliflower (or frozen cauliflower rice)
• 1 small banana, sliced and then frozen
• ½ c frozen cherries
• ½ - 1 c plant milk of choice (ideally a higher-protein option like soy)
• Scoop of vanilla or unflavored protein powder (my personal go-to is Sprout Living; use the code ROGUE to get 20% off)
• 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
• Toppings of choice (optional)

Directions:

1. Add the frozen cauliflower, banana, cherries, ½ c plant milk, protein powder, and cacao powder to a food processor or blender. Process until the texture is thick and rich, adding additional milk as needed.
2. Transfer the smoothie to a serving bowl or large glass.
3. If desired, top the smoothie however you like.

Live Colorfully

In the Natural World: HUNGRY HUMMINGBIRDS

Keep your eyes and ears open, because the air space where you live could be buzzing. Not with planes, but with tiny, fast-flying hummingbirds! They're getting ready for their long seasonal migration and are eating as much as they can before they start heading south.

Here in Vermont (and generally in the eastern US), we only have one species: ruby-throated hummingbirds. They spend summer in the continental US, then migrate to Central America for winter. You may have other species where you live though, so take a look online or in the Merlin birding app (which is a free download).

Our hummingbirds have been going wild lately; we sit out on our deck every evening to watch them zoom around. They zip back and forth between our feeders and our flowers, chasing each other in a sequence of impressively fast aerial acrobatics. These are the kind of feeders we've had great luck with; they're inexpensive and easy to refill.

One very important tip: if you have hummingbird feeders, make sure to clean the feeder and remake the sugar solution every few days. If you let the sugar solution sit for too long, it can develop mold growth that can make the birds sick. So take care of your hummingbird neighbors, follow the directions on your feeder (it should just be a sugar solution, with no coloring or additives), and clean the feeder and replace the solution frequently. They'll reward you with amazing aerial shows!

Self-Care Pick: PADDLEBOARDING

I have a new love that I can't wait to tell you about. This spring, after years of dreaming about it, I finally got myself a paddleboard. And wow, I'm smitten! If you've been curious about getting one too, then I hope this will inspire you.

There are many things to love about paddleboarding. It's a great workout, a wonderful way to explore your local lakes and rivers, and relatively inexpensive. A paddleboard is also easy to load, carry, launch, and paddle alone, so you don't need a buddy (unlike a canoe or kayak, which can be hard to carry). Spiritually speaking, I've loved the independence of being able to paddle whenever I want and the peace of being out on the water solo.

After a lot of research, I chose to get an inflatable board, which I've used several times a week for the past few months. An inflatable board is reasonably priced (the one I got is about $200) and can easily go in a small car, no roof rack needed. As an added bonus, it packs down into a backpack that you can hike with or even take as a piece of luggage on a plane. The versatility is hard to beat! Unlike what you might expect, an inflatable board is very rigid and robust; the one I chose has a 400-pound capacity in case I want to take someone else with me.

A few afternoons a week, I paddle out onto Lake Champlain and go wherever the spirit moves me. Sometimes I go for a long paddle and treat it like a workout. Sometimes I land on a remote stretch of shoreline for a swim, or I paddle a couple miles into the middle of the bay and dive in. I see herons, egrets, osprey, and a few different types of ducks. As someone who has always loved being on (and in!) the water, the independence of finally having my own little boat that I can launch whenever I want to has been life-giving.

Thanks for joining me for this issue of Eat Colorfully, Live Colorfully! I'd love to hear from you, so please feel free to reply with questions, thoughts, or requests. If you missed a previous issue, you can view all my newsletters here. Have a great week!