Summertime is the time for fresh fruit to pop up everywhere from farmer’s markets to grocery stores. Flavors are better and prices are lower. On hot summer days, fruit seems more refreshing than something heavier. However, some of us tend to treat fruit like the enemy. And, quite frankly, it can be the enemy when it sends us into a flare. Who wants to ruin a good summer day with bladder pain and even more trips to the bathroom?!
But, here’s the good news. Fruit that’s in season during summertime are almost all categorized as “foods worth trying” on the ICN Food List, except, of course, citrus fruits. But even they have parts worth trying, such as the rind, which adds flavor but not acid. Blueberries are the summer star and categorized as “usually bladder friendly.” Everything else is worth trying.
If you are trying a new food, proceed with caution. Go for a smaller amount at first and consider taking a couple of Prelief tablets before eating to help counter the acid. Get to trying some of these summer fruits either fresh or in recipes this year. Tickle your taste buds, increase your vitamin intake and remember that your bladder doesn’t rule your life!
(Apricots, cherries and strawberries continue to be fresh in the summer as well as spring. You can find ideas for these fruits here.)
Bananas (foods worth trying)
IC diet research studies have proven that bananas are not only usually bladder friendly but actually soothing for most patients. You can totally go for a fresh banana by itself, but there are some tasty banana recipes you can try as well.
- Banana ice-cream (This is literally just a frozen banana! You can add in some additional ingredients as suggested in this recipe, but use bladder friendly choices like honey or peanut butter. No ice-cream maker needed.)
- Protein-packed banana bread (If walnuts bother you, omit them. If yogurt irritates your bladder, then move on to the next banana bread recipe.)
- Banana bread
- Peanut butter banana oat breakfast cookies
- Vanilla-banana cream pie
- Easy banana muffins (This recipe calls for cashews, which are usually bladder friendly.)
Berries
Summer is the perfect time for fresh berries. Blueberries are an IC diet staple, because they are usually bladder friendly. Strawberries, blackberries and raspberries all fall into the “foods worth trying” category. These fruits can be good fresh on their own or mixed together. They also make some delicious recipes!
- Berry milkshakes
- Blueberry breakfast casserole
- Red, white & blue spinach salad with basil blueberry non-vinaigrette dressing
- Oatmeal yogurt parfaits
- Berry topped mini cheesecakes
- Pear french toast with blueberries
- Raspberry cream cheese muffins (This recipe calls for walnuts, which are in the “foods worth trying” category. If you’re unsure about them, then just leave them out. It also calls for buttermilk, which is in the “foods worth trying” category. Replace the buttermilk with plain milk if you’d rather.)
- Blueberry smoothie
- Blackberry white chocolate cheesecake cups
- Blackberry cobbler
Mangos (foods worth trying)
Sweet and a bit citrusy, mangoes are great for eating fresh by themselves. But if you’re in the mood to try something new, check out these mango recipes.
- Mango salsa (The only other ingredient to watch out for in this recipe is the 2 tablespoons of red onion. If onion is bothersome to your bladder, just leave it out and maybe try a dash of onion powder instead.)
- Mango crumb bars
- Mango ice cream (No ice cream maker is needed for this 3-ingredient recipe.)
- Mango coconut overnight oats (This recipe uses 1/4-cup of Greek yogurt, which is in the “foods worth trying category.”)
- Thai mango sticky rice
- Mango blueberry crumble
Melons (foods worth trying)
Melons are fresh summertime fruits that all fall into the “foods worth trying category.” Look for cantaloupe, honeydew melon and watermelon in particular to bring some refreshing flavors this summer. While Melons are great fresh on their own, cantaloupe and watermelon also have a few delicious recipes you can try for something new.
- Spiced cantaloupe tea loaf (This recipe includes 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, which is also in the “foods worth trying” category. If you don’t tolerate ginger, you can just omit it from the recipe.)
- Cantaloupe meringue pie
- Watermelon salad with feta and cucumber
- Watermelon ice cream (No ice cream maker is needed for this 4-ingredient recipe.)
- Minted watermelon salad (Omit the red onion in this recipe if they are bothersome for you. Consider trying a dash of onion powder instead.)
Nectarines (foods worth trying)
A less fuzzy cousin to the peach, nectarines look and taste a lot like peaches. They are just a bit firmer. Enjoy a nectarine fresh or in a new recipe for a sweet treat.
- Nectarine cobbler
- Fruit-n-cake kabobs (This recipe includes apricot preserves, nectarines, peaches and plums. All four fruits are in the “foods worth trying” category. If you aren’t sure about any of them, try making these kabobs with just one fruit at a time to see what works best for you. Since they use frozen pound cake, they are a pretty quick, easy dessert to whip up!)
- Pork chops with nectarine sauce (This recipe includes onions as well, which can be omitted or replaced with a dash of onion powder if they are bothersome.)
- Nectarine pie
- Easy grilled nectarines (You only add butter and brown sugar to nectarines for this easy dessert.)
- Peach nectarine muffins (This recipe calls for one peach and one nectarine. You could easily make it with two of either fruit instead of mixing them if you prefer.)
Passion fruit (foods worth trying)
Passion fruit is perhaps a bit less common. It’s a tart fruit, especially if eaten before it’s ripe. (Check out this video about how to tell whether your passion fruit is ripe.) You can add sugar to make it sweeter or use it in a recipe to help counter a bit of the tartness.
- Passion fruit mousse
- Passion fruit bars
- Passion fruit cheesecake
- Mango and passion fruit juice (This combines two fruits that are in the “foods worth trying category,” so don’t make it with both fruits unless you’re sure they both are fine for you. This recipe also uses fresh ginger, which is in the “foods worth trying” category as well and could be omitted.)
- Passion fruit parfait
Peaches (foods worth trying)
Though canned peaches serve a purpose for colder months, summertime is the season for fresh peaches! You can easily enjoy the sweet, juicy fruit on its own or prepared in recipes.
- Easy peach cobbler
- Peach scones
- Georgia peach pound cake
- Peaches and cream pie
- Tennessee peach pudding (This recipe uses 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg for the entire recipe. Nutmeg is in the “foods worth trying” category. You can omit it or replace it with cinnamon if even a small amount of nutmeg is bothersome for you.)
Plums (foods worth trying)
Little Jack Horner might have pulled a plum out of a Christmas pie in the Mother Goose nursery rhyme, but summer is actually the season for fresh plums. The round, dark purple fruit can be either sweet or tart. Try it fresh in the summertime and maybe use plums in some lip-smacking recipes as well!
- Fresh plum crumb dessert
- Plum crisp
- Late summer plum cake (This recipe uses 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg for the entire recipe. Nutmeg is in the “foods worth trying” category. You can omit it or replace it with cinnamon if even a small amount of nutmeg is bothersome for you.)
- Easy plum jam
- Plum coffee cake muffins (This recipe uses 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg for the entire recipe. Nutmeg is in the “foods worth trying” category. You can omit it or replace it with cinnamon if even a small amount of nutmeg is bothersome for you.)
