Chew Your Energy: A Summer in Austin’s Farm-to-Table Rhythm

When summer settles over Austin, Texas, the heat does more than raise the temperature — it sets the tempo for the whole city. We wake earlier, slow down in the afternoons, gather when the sun dips. The food we choose either fights that rhythm or flows with it.

That’s where my philosophy comes in: chew your energy.

It’s a simple phrase, but it carries a lot. Yes, it’s about chewing for digestion. But more than that, it’s about choosing real, whole food and taking the time to fully experience the energy that food carries — from the sun that grew it, to the farmer who tended it, to the moment you taste it.

The Energy Behind Every Bite

Austin’s summer farmers’ markets are an edible parade — tomatoes still warm from the field, melons so fragrant they almost stop you mid-step, bunches of basil and mint that make you lean in for another breath. These aren’t just “fresh” ingredients. They’re alive, pulsing with the season’s energy and efforts of our farmers.

When you chew your energy, you’re honoring that life. You’re slowing down enough to notice the way a just-picked cucumber still has a snap, or how a ripe peach practically collapses in your hand. You’re tasting the soil, the rain, the heat — everything that went into making that bite possible.

Why Austin Summers Demand Whole, Seasonal Food

If you’ve lived through July or August here, you know the dance:

• Morning: Market runs, coffee on shaded patios, maybe a walk before the sun stakes its claim on the day.

• Afternoon: Retreat, hydrate, eat light, avoid that sluggish, post-lunch crash.

• Evening: Slow meals outdoors, where the grill becomes as important as the table.

The heat changes what your body wants — and what it can handle. Heavy, processed foods drain you. The antidote? Whole, hydrating, nutrient-rich meals that deliver energy without weighing you down.

Breakfast: Pepitas and Avocado — A Small Plate, Big Energy

Here’s a perfect summer breakfast for Austin: a handful of pepitas and half an avocado, maybe with a squeeze of lime and a pinch of flaky salt. It’s deceptively simple — and nutrient-dense in a way that sets you up for the day.

Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds):

• Healthy Fats – mostly unsaturated, great for sustained energy.

• Protein – about 7g per ounce, making them a compact plant-based protein source.

• Magnesium – essential for muscle function and calming the nervous system.

• Zinc – supports immunity and helps with cell repair.

• Antioxidants – protect cells from oxidative stress, especially useful in the intense Texas sun.

Pepitas have this toasty, nutty depth — not overpowering, but enough to remind you food can be both fuel and pleasure.

Avocado:

• Monounsaturated Fat – supports heart health and keeps you satisfied.

• Potassium – more than a banana, helping balance electrolytes in the summer heat.

• Fiber – supports digestion and helps regulate blood sugar.

• Folate & B Vitamins – aid in energy metabolism.

Half an avocado is creamy, cooling, and grounding. Pair it with pepitas and you get a breakfast that’s balanced in fats, protein, and fiber — slow-burning energy that keeps you steady through the morning.

It’s the kind of meal that embodies chew your energy: whole, unprocessed, and satisfying without excess.

Chew Your Energy Beyond the Plate

Chewing your energy isn’t only about how you eat — it’s about how you live. It’s walking to the farmers’ market and talking to the people who grew your food. It’s rinsing lettuce and realizing the leaves are almost translucent in the sunlight. It’s pausing before the first bite, smelling the basil, feeling the texture of the bread, noticing the warmth in the tomato’s skin.

It’s also about gratitude. When you know the path your food took to get to you, it’s almost impossible not to feel thankful. And that gratitude? It changes the way the meal feels — and even how it nourishes you.

Summer Staples in My Austin Kitchen

• Watermelon & Basil Gazpacho – pure hydration and brightness.

• Grilled Zucchini & Squash with Lemon Vinaigrette – smoky, tangy, alive.

• Cold Rice Noodle Bowls with Fresh Herbs & Chili-Lime Dressing – the kind of bowl you can eat barefoot on the patio.

• Farmstand Melon with Chili Salt – so simple, so right.

These aren’t just recipes — they’re expressions of the season. They don’t fight the heat; they work with it.

Making It Part of Your Life

In Austin’s summer, chew your energy by:

• Shopping local and seasonal — whole food starts at the source.

• Prioritizing cooling, hydrating ingredients like cucumbers, melons, herbs, and citrus.

• Keeping proteins lean and portions balanced for the heat.

• Sitting down to eat whenever possible — rushed bites are wasted bites (100% This right here)

  
  

When you chew your energy, you’re not just eating. You’re building a connection — to the land, the people who tend it, and the natural energy that moves through all of it.