This week we'll explore fresh basil and how to revamp your breakfast this summer. We'll also delve into a story about the baby birds who live in our wall and a green food challenge for the week.

Eat Colorfully

Seasonal Ingredient Spotlight: FRESH BASIL

Happy June! As we enter into these next few fabulous summer months, one of the things I'm most excited about is fresh (and eventually homegrown!) herbs. This week I'm happy to be celebrating beautiful, fragrant, versatile basil.

Basil is, of course, the superstar of pesto. But did you know that you can easily make pesto with no oil and no cheese? The comprehensive vegan oil-free pesto guide on my blog is full of recipes for non-traditional pesto that is based in avocado, tahini, and even zucchini. If you're excited to make pesto this season but are looking for an option that's plant-based, lighter, and/or oil-free, then you'll definitely want to check this guide out.

Basil is great on salads too; just chop a handful of leaves into very fine ribbons and toss it into all your summer salads. It goes beautifully alongside seasonal produce (corn, tomatoes, peaches, strawberries, etc.) and with Mediterranean flavors. If you're looking for a specific recipe, this Grilled Peach and Farro Salad with Basil is wonderful all summer long.

Try This Week: A SUPERCHARGED SMOOTHIE

Now that we're into summer, what about giving your breakfast routine a refresh? In particular, what about trying a smoothie for breakfast? Smoothies are a great way to pack a ton of nutrition into your morning because you can easily add veggies, protein, electrolytes, and whatever other supplements your body needs. They take just a few minutes to prepare and feel refreshing on a warm morning.

And no, contrary to popular belief, smoothies don't have to contain a lot of fruit (and hence sugar, albeit natural sugar). In fact, you can make a delicious smoothie with virtually no fruit if you're trying to keep carbs in check.

Want to give it a try? My personal go-to is this Supercharged Green Electrolyte + Protein Smoothie. I make it every single morning, just switching up the flavors. It's loaded with nutrient-dense spinach, an electrolyte-rich banana, protein-rich soy milk, additional protein powder, an electrolyte supplement, and even creatine. You can add other tasty (and powerful!) ingredients like antioxidant-rich matcha, soothing ginger, refreshing mint, decadent cacao nibs, or omega-rich chia seeds.

Looking for other ways to give your smoothies a makeover? I actually have a whole e-book dedicated to veggie-based smoothies that are low in carbs/sugar and high in protein/fiber. Called "Blend The Rainbow" ($5), it contains eight veggie smoothie recipes themed by color.

Live Colorfully

In the Natural World: BABY BIRDS IN OUR HOUSE

I'm beyond excited to report that the bird family who nests in our bedroom wall every spring is doing great. In fact, their first brood of chicks just fledged. I'm always delighted to hear the little chicks chirping happily as mom and dad bring food into the nest, even though they start at 4:45AM.

Yes indeed, we have birds living in our wall (I acknowledge that this is a bizarre thing to allow in one's house). This is the ninth spring they’ve spent with us. They're European Starlings and they enter through a hole in our siding created by a woodpecker. Their nest is between the drywall and the outer wall, so we can hear them but not see them.

Every spring I track their hatch date and their fledge date; I also spend countless hours sitting outside and watching the parents swoop in and out with food, and eventually watch as the chicks start poking their heads out of the nest. They bring me such joy, and I'm happy that we can give them a safe place to call home.

Self-Care Pick: EAT GREEN

I have a fun challenge for you this week: how many green foods can you get into one bowl?

I always love green food, but late spring and early summer are my favorite times to make big "green goddess" type meals. Recently, I've been loving huge romaine salads, peas, and avocado together. We also have tons of fresh mint coming up in our yard, and my basil and dill are both off to a good start. This week, our sweet neighbor gave us a huge bag of locally-foraged fiddlehead ferns, which further added to the green theme.

Why enjoy green foods? The reasons are endless! Many green veggies are contain fiber, vitamins (like A, C, and K), phytonutrients, and even some protein. Herbs are nutritional powerhouses too. Green legumes, like peas and edamame, are rich in protein. My favorite green food, avocado, is rich in healthy fats.

So, this week, I challenge you to make a green-themed bowl with as many green ingredients as you can get your hands on. If you have Instagram, tag me in a post and I'll re-share it to my stories.

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!