Lemons are excellent sources of Vitamin C, which helps your body heal wounds, maintain healthy cartilage and reduce the risk of serious illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Because your body relies on outside resources to acquire this nutrient, it is vital that you eat Vitamin C-rich foods such as lemons, cantaloupe, spinach and broccoli. When cooking foods that feature lemon as a main flavor, use real, or fresh, lemons. These let you use different parts of the fruit and offer an extra degree of acidity that is often lost in prepackaged lemon juices.
Almond and Lemon-Crusted Salmon
Spread a filet of salmon and coat with ground almonds, lemon zest and spices such as dill and salt. Cook in the oven until the center is opaque. Serve over a bed of wilted spinach heated with garlic and lemon juice. For such a quick meal, this dish is bursting with nutritious benefits. Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in reducing heart disease. The ground almonds offer a great source of potassium, protein, fiber and riboflavin. Spinach is high in both fiber and Vitamin C.
Lemon Chicken Stir-Fry
Create your own stir-fry using chicken, lemon and your other favorite ingredients. Cook the chicken in a skillet or wok with lemon zest and olive oil and add vegetables such as vitamin-rich carrots, scallions and bean sprouts. If you prefer a vegetarian recipe, you can eliminate the chicken and instead add almonds for protein. Create a sauce with lemon juice and low-sodium soy sauce, which contains niacin, a nutrient that promotes heart, skin and digestive health. Serve the stir-fry over whole grain pasta.
Lemon Squares
Transform this traditional dessert recipe with the freshness of real fruit. For a recipe that calls for 1/4 cup lemon juice, you will only need to squeeze two lemons, as each produces two to three tbsp. of juice. Substitute other unhealthy ingredients for a full-recipe makeover. Use whole-wheat flour instead of white flour and egg whites or egg substitute rather than whole eggs. Minimize the amount of sugar and add extra flavor with lemon zest.
Soup with Meyer Lemons
Meyer lemons offer all the benefits of regular lemons, without the harsh tartness. Available primarily during the winter months, this fruit is a combination of lemon and mandarin orange with a thin, edible skin. Combine 3 tbsp. zest with cinnamon, garlic, cloves and other spices to taste and saute in a pan with chicken broth, then strain. Add shrimp, which is high in protein, along with 3 tbsp. lemon juice and hot sauce to taste. Serve with cilantro, which aids in digestion and detoxification. Garnish with a couple of thin slices of that delicious Meyer lemon.
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