ADAPT FOOD PREPARATION TO WARMER WEATHER.

• Position: Seasonal eating habits - Brief Article

Summer eating habits differ from winter eating habits, but not as much as people think. "You might be surprised to find that there's not that much difference," indicates Sandy Procter, expanded food nutrition education program coordinator at Kansas State University, Manhattan. "Eating habits do differ because of our activity levels and the temperature, but the foods we eat are pretty much the same. It's just the way we prepare them."

For example, grilling with marinades has become popular. "We've always grilled meats. Now, people are starting to experiment with vegetables and even fruits. People are familiar with corn on the cob, but now they are leaving it in the husk and putting it on the grill. It's a new way to tickle the taste buds."

Soups and cookies don't have to be eliminated during the summer, Procter maintains. She suggests trying cold soups as an...