The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday and it’s just around the corner! I love the food, the fanfare, the fireworks and fun times with friends. Instead of the rich, heavy foods served on winter holidays, Independence Day is an opportunity to explore summer’s fresh foods without ruining your waistline. Alongside sweet corn grilled in the husk and fresh hand-picked tomatoes topped with basil and olive oil, I am particularly fond of grilling fresh pineapple, peaches and pears or fresh fruit salads that marry the flavors and patriotic colors of summer fruits.

Fruit salads are incredibly easy to make, and since you only need fresh fruits, they are a healthful addition to any outing. For a red, white and blue salad, start with raspberries or sliced strawberries, add blueberries or blackberries, and finish with fresh cut, slightly crisp pears; mix just before serving to keep the colors from blending and you have a delicious, fresh dessert! For a truly star-spangled salad, toss in starfruit sliced crosswise to make star shaped slices. In addition to fireworks, you now have a healthful dish that tastes dynamite!