Wendy Battles-Plasse

(WTNH) -  Wendy Battles-Plasse, The Clean Eating Coach, is a nutritionist, author, and meal planning expert. She teaches busy men and women, especially those over 40, how to create a clean eating lifestyle free of processed food, salt and sugar that helps prevents disease, kick starts weight loss, creates boundless energy and supports aging vibrantly. She believes that embracing a healthier lifestyle in midlife creates the stage for vibrant health in later years and reduces the likelihood of chronic disease.

As the Clean Eating Coach, she works one-on-one with clients as well as with groups to help people integrate clean eating principles - less processed foods full of fat, sugar and salt, more whole, fresh foods grown in sustainable ways and more focus on slowing down to enjoy your food and tuning into your body.

She is the co-author of "A Healthier You"  and a contributor to the recently published book, " Is She Naturally Thin or Disciplined? Insider Secrets of the Sexy and Thin ."

You can learn more about Wendy, her coaching programs and products at http://DontWorryGetHealthy.com .

Demonstrate and discuss simple and cooling summer foods that are healthy and don't require having to turn on the stove in this hot and sticky weather!

Watermelon: 

• high water content, so it's naturally cooling
• High in Vitamin C and Vitamin A
• Also contains lycopene, an antioxidant that has been linked extensively studied for its antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties and found to be protective against a growing list of cancers including prostate cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancers.
• Besides just eating it there are fun things you make with it
• Watermelon salad with fresh mint and feta cheese - easy to make, perfect salad for summer
• Watermelon cooler - watermelon, ice and fresh lime blended to cool perfection 

Cucumbers:

• High water content
• Perfectly in season from May-July
• Inexpensive to buy at the farmer's market where you know they are locally grown
• Contains Vitamin C, a natural antioxidant
• Besides just slicing them and adding to a salad, here are two other ways to enjoy them:
• Tomato and cucumber salad - uses fresh, seasonal ingredients 
• Cucumber water - sliced cucumbers, lemon and mint 

Mint:

• Naturally cooling…think York Peppermint patty
• Fresh mint can be used in a variety of dishes or added to flavored water
• Contains Vitamin C and a host of minerals
• Find spearmint or peppermint in your locally grocery store
• Add to a green salad
• Make ice tea, sweeten with orange juice and add mint for flavor à will bring sample