Photo: moreno0101, Flickr

What's cheap, easily available and delicious? Melon! It's in season, which makes it affordable and readily available. And, forget about relinquishing it to a bowl of fruit salad -- melon has a lot more to bring to the table!

First, think about pairings, and go beyond the typical fruit salad combos. Think about prosciutto, avocado, honey and syrups, herbs like tarragon or basil, regular salads or whatever else comes to mind. Could some honeydew add a new flavor to your favorite smoothie? Can you see yourself chilling out with a watermelon-flavored popsicle?

As is often the case, Martha Stewart has the answer. Over at wholeliving.com, you'll find recipes for everything from Watermelon Gazpacho (a soup that combines delicious veggies with juicy watermelon) to Easy Melon Sorbet (a delicious frozen dessert that doesn't require any special tools beyond a food processor).

Got a favorite melon recipe? Or are you a melon purist, believing that melon should only be eaten fresh and on its own?

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Thank goodness it's not July, because watermelon is not on the low GI menu. In fact, at 80, its GI ranking is considered high. What a disappointment. Cantaloupe barely squeezes in at 75, but some of my other favorite fruits -- apples, pears and cherries -- fall into the "low" category, so I'll snack on those instead.

It's probably no surprise to anyone that most veggies are low on the glycemic index. Even carrots, with all their natural sugars, only rank a 16 when eaten raw, and sweet corn is a 47. I've got to stay away from pumpkin and parsnips, though, which, honestly, shouldn't be a problem.

It seems like such a simple, small step: Drink more water. But it's often a difficult one for people -- people who might be kinda fond of their soda addiction, for instance. But being properly hydrated really is an important part of being fit.

For one, water quenches your thirst, making you less likely to reach for that soft drink. And as they're saying over at Livestrong, where more than 11,000 members have dared to sip more H2O, water also helps flush away toxins and replenish muscles. And since being even mildly dehydrated can make you tired and headache-y, drinking plenty of water can ensure you have enough energy for your workout every day.

For a lot of people, though, drinking plain water gets boring. But as the commenters over at Livestrong are quick to point out, adding natural flavors to water not only keeps things interesting, but fruits and veggies can boost nutrition too. Here are some quick and healthy ideas for putting some splash into your next glass of water.

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We know that colorful foods are best; color provides a variety of nutrients our body needs. And let's face it -- it's much more fun for our taste buds that plain old potatoes and other white foods.

How about some refreshing summer cooler drinks that will give us a fair amount of nutrition, too? Whole Foods Market has some creative recipes that will enhance your seasonal fun.

Let's start with the green Minted Lime Freeze. If you love mojitos, this is a fabulous, frozen, non-alcoholic version of that fun drink. Fresh-squeezed lime juice provides vitamin C and the mint leaves are your leafy greens.

Salsa is such a wonderfully healthy condiment on its own, and makes a wonderful addition to grilled chicken and fish, brown rice and quinoa. Steer clear of the traditional corn chips, if you can, though!

Do you sometimes get tired of the same old tomato salsa? I've found three unique salsa recipes to put a little spunk back into your salsa meals.

The first celebrates a favorite food of mine: the avocado. Epicurious' Asian Avocado Salsa lends a different twist to traditional salsa, with ingredients like soy sauce, sesame seeds and oil, jicama, and watercress. With a powerhouse main ingredient like avocado, this one is sinless.

• Watermelon juice beat out tomato juice on the lycopene front in a recent study. Research suggests that lycopene may be a cancer killer.
• A compound in watermelon can help with your skin's healing and regenerative processes.
• Watermelon is practically calorie-free. It contains less than 50 calories per cup which makes it a grand way to satisfy a sweet tooth.
• Eating watermelon is a great way to hydrate. There's 141 grams of water per each cubed cup.

'Tis the season for ripe watermelons. Head on out and get yourself one. And get this: whole watermelons stored at room temperature deliver more cell-protecting antioxidants. You'd be wise then to eat this melon as soon as you cut it up for maximum benefits. Then chill the rest.

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As people sit down to enjoy July 4th cookouts this weekend, they're sure to find a slice of watermelon on their dinner plates. Watermelon is the perfect summer fruit -- sweet, juicy, and refreshing. Not only is watermelon a great hot weather taste, however, it's also amazingly good for you.

Among its many phytonutrients, naturally occurring compounds that interact with the body to improve health, is one called citrulline. Researchers are just getting to know this particular nutrient, but what they've discovered is that it can give your body a boost, in more way than one.

Citrulline increases nitric oxide levels in the body, which opens up the blood vessels, just like Viagra, they say. Though researchers also say that citrulline isn't "organ specific" like Viagra, it does increase circulation body-wide. Seems like a good enough reason to try a slice, doesn't it?

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Summer is the perfect time for hot dogs at the family BBQ, big pretzels at the county fair, and cold treats straight from the ice cream truck. Although these foods can be less-than-perfect options for our kids who love them so -- think lots of salt, sugar, and fat -- WedMD says they can be not so bad, really. Check them out.

• Nachos & Quesadillas
• Hamburgers & Hot Dogs
• Ice Cream
• Frozen Yogurt
• Waffles and pancakes
• Marshmallows
• Popcorn
• Watermelon
  
  

Hot dogs? Healthy? I never thought so. Try light and reduced-fat dogs and you'll be OK, says Sarah Krieger, an American Dietetic Association (ADA) spokeswoman.

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My son and I both love watermelon, but size is an issue. If we buy the tiny ones we go through them in no time. If we buy the medium-sized melons, we invariably end up throwing some of it out. That's why I love this idea for watermelon water. What a delicious and healthy way to use up some of the excess watermelon!

All you need to do is puree two cups of watermelon cubes (seedless, of course) with two cups of water. Pour the puree into a pitcher and stir in another cup of water. The recipe says you can add sugar if it isn't sweet enough, but I can't imagine why you would want to. I think the mildly flavored water would be pleasant, and why would you add sugar to an otherwise healthy refreshment?

You could also freeze melon balls to use as ice cubes for added flavor and fun. Enjoy!

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Mmmmm ... watermelons. I was so glad to see them showing back up in stores this weekend. There's nothing like a juicy, sweet bowl of nutritious watermelon on a hot summer's day.

A West Virginia girl learned, though, that sometimes watermelons are not so good for your health -- not when they've got a hitchhiking scorpion on board. The girl was stung by the scorpion who apparently came into the store in a box of watermelons. Her dad didn't believe her until he saw it scuttling away. Shiver.

Luckily, most scorpions are not dangerous and the girl was unharmed. She said that the sting hurt a little worse than a bee sting. Still, Wal-Mart officials are looking into the matter.

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When things get hectic and crazed around my house, my old stand-by dinner is invariably whole-wheat spaghetti and marinara sauce with added veggies. It's quick, easy, always a hit with my son, and passable nutrition-wise. It turns out my "old faithful" dinner also has benefits for the skin.

Researchers have determined that antioxidants in tomatoes help protect the skin against UV rays. Lycopene, one of the antioxidants found in tomatoes, has previously been linked to a reduction in prostate cancer risk. The skin benefits are just the icing on the cake... or the sauce on the spaghetti. Participants in the study ate up to 55 grams of tomato paste daily. In addition to the UV protection, lycopene may also be linked with anti-aging properties.

Lycopene is found in many other red fruits and vegetables including watermelon, guava, and pink grapefruit.

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All drinks taste better when you make your own straws, say the folks at thinkgeek.com of their DIY Drinking Strawz. Intended for adults, I imagine, these straws -- you buy the parts, then put together at home -- made an appearance in the April issue of kids magazine Wonder time. No doubt, this contraption could be pretty cool for the little ones in your life.

Wonder time suggests you use the DIY Strawz for this refreshing watermelon drink. Feel free to substitute another fruit for the melon if you wish.

• Puree two cups diced watermelon and two cups water in blender
• Pour into pitcher
• Stir in another cup of water -- or more to best match your taste
  
• If not sweet enough for you, add 1/8 cup sugar
• Chill for one hour
• Pour over ice and serve

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I think I may have just eaten my weight in watermelon. Well, not exactly all of my weight but I feel so full right now that I know I stuffed in a lot of the stuff. And you know what? I'm OK with it.

My hefty dose of watermelon curbed my desire for something crunchy and not so healthy, and it just so happens to be packed with vitamins, minerals, and lycopene. It's one of Weight Watcher's Picks of the Season, a public health initiative spotlighting seasonal fruits and vegetables, and check this out: One cup of watermelon has only 46 calories, 0 fat, 0 cholesterol, 2 grams sodium, 12 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 1 g protein, and 12 g sugar -- natural sugar, that is. Watermelon has a high water content -- about 92 percent -- and while the researchers spotlighted in this post may say this is too much water, I'm happy with my snack choice. So are my kids. They just devoured a few bowls of watermelon balls themselves.

If you get the chance, stock up on some watermelon whenever you can. It's not just for picnics, you know.

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Spring is here and I, for one, am glad. I mentioned to my mother the other day that I had bought a box of individually flash-frozen asparagus spears and they were really good. I told her I'd pick a box up for her. Her reply was "They sound great... but I'll buy fresh for now." And she's right! Asparagus is just one of the delicious, healthy foods that abound in spring. Depending on where you live, other delicious seasonal treats include Swiss chard, peas, strawberries, rhubarb, avocado, watermelon, apricots, spinach, Romaine lettuce, and basil.

Buying food in season not only ensures you're getting the freshest produce available, it's also good for the environment. Buying local food supports the farmers in your own community and reduces the distance food has to travel from the farm to your plate. Visit a farmer's market this spring and see what produce is in season!

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We all know the foods that help us pack on the pounds. It's time to focus on those with the power to help us drop a few. Check out these four.

Walnuts
They're high in calories but have lots of protein, healthy fats, and omega-3 fatty acids which will keep you feeling full. They can also help lower cholesterol. Don't go overboard but try 10-12 walnuts for a mid-afternoon snack. Or add a few on top of your salad at lunch.

Whole Grain Cereal
This high-in-fiber food takes longer to digest and keeps you feeling full longer. Oatmeal, also a cholesterol-lowering food, does the same.

Watermelon
The water in this fruit -- try lettuce, cantaloupe, and cucumbers too -- will fill you up without a lot of calories. The vitamins and antioxidants in this treat will also boost your immune system.

Green Tea
Green tea can help you lose weight because of compounds called catechins which increase metabolism and help your body burn fat more quickly. Forget the milk and sugar and this tea has no calories.

Check out this AOL Body site for more diet basics.

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