Best Summer food for dieters

June 9, 8:40 AMIndianapolis Diets ExaminerCathy Chambers

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Fresh produce of all kinds make summer the easiest season for weight loss. Indianapolis is fortunate to have the City Market. Located at 222 East Market Street, the market dates back to 1821. The market provides Indianapolis residents with fresh locally grown produce from nearby farms. There are also stands where hungry shoppers can purchase fresh prepared food. The City Market's website includes a page that lists which foods are currently in season. These are some of the fresh foods that are in season now.

Strawberries are available starting in late May, usually a week before Memorial Day. Strawberries are low in calories and fat and are high in vitamin C. A half cup serving has only 49 calories.

Cherries have only 87 calories per cup. Low in fat, cherries make a great snack.

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Tomatoes are a favorite of backyard gardeners everywhere.  Tomatoes are low in calories and fat and high in vitamin C. . For variety, try one of the Heirloom tomatoes  which can range in color from a light pinkish red to a deep purple. The heirlooms and other varieties of tomatoes vary in acidity.  Tomatoes have the added benefit of Lycopene which has been linked to the prevention of heart disease and cancer.

If you want to get out of the city, there are many local farms that have road side markets with in a few hours drive of Indianapolis.  Indiana farmers are known for being major  producers of crops like sweet corn, melons and blueberries.

Watermelon Is low in calories and makes a refreshing summer snack. Blueberries are low calorie and packed with antioxidants. Sweet Corn has only 77 calories in an ear but is high in natural sugars, so it might not fit in well with all diet plans. Corn is high in lutein which is good for cardiovascular health so it shouldn't be completely removed from your diet.

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All of the fresh fruits and vegetables available over the summer make wonderful additions to your diet and will improve your over all health. Use them to help avoid the mayonnaise laden salads that appear at cook outs and parties. Try substituting a fruit salad mixed with low fat yogurt or making kabobs of fresh fruit. Grilled fresh vegetables are another flavorful addition to your barbecue.

Summer's heat make heavy, starchy foods seem unappealing. So why not make a trip to the City Market tomorrow and see what summer produce is available?