Summer Lunch Essentials + Whole Foods Giveaway!

Memorial Day weekend is here and it’s basically the unofficial start of summer. If you’re in the Philadelphia area, it’s really starting to feel like summer with the 80 degree weather and clear skies. HELL YES. So much better than the month-long rain we’ve had. 

I’ll be spending this weekend drinking cocktails and eating BBQ with family and friends by the pool. I even took off from work on Tuesday to continue the celebrations. I can barely wait. 

Today however, I’m sharing two summer lunch essentials that you’ll be craving all season long: a peppery arugula salad and melon soda {without all the nasty chemicals}. I personally love this meal because it’s light, fresh and super quick to make. You can find all the ingredients needed at Whole Foods. And lucky for you, I’m giving away a $50 Whole Foods gift card at the end of this post! 

Summer Lunch Essentials

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Arugula salad: arugula, extra virgin olive oil, shaved parm and {lots of} fresh lemon juice 
• Melon soda: 365 melon peach Italian soda, ice and sprigs of fresh rosemary

See? Weren’t those the two easiest recipes ever? 

As I’m typing this post, I’m craving that melon soda. Normally, I’m not a big soda drinker because of all the high fructose corn syrup {however, I’ll never turn down a Sprite}. And I’m DEFINITELY not touching anything diet that’s loaded with disgusting artificial sweeteners. NOPE.

This melon peach Italian soda is more like a fizzy juice than a soda, which I love. It contains a bunch of different fruit juices and is sweetened with cane sugar instead of HFCS. Bryan loved it too! He kept telling me how fresh it tasted, and I completely agree. I’m actually going to Whole Foods this weekend to pick up a few more bottles to keep on-hand for upcoming summer festivities. They have a bunch of great flavors that I can’t wait to try. 

I’m so happy to be doing a Whole Foods giveaway, because it’s seriously one of my favorite places to shop. They literally have everything I need. Natural skincare products? Check! Fresh sourdough bread? Check! Guacamole that’s to die for? Check! Green juice? Check! I could go on and on. I have so many favorites. 

Bryan and I enjoy going to Whole Foods on the weekends because they always have the best samples out, and who doesn’t love free food?! Every Saturday in May, they had a huge sampling event that was so successful that they’re extending it for another month. If you’re in Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, Maryland, DC, Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky make sure to stop in your local Whole Foods every Saturday in June from 12-4pm for a sampling event!  

Ok, now what you’ve been waiting for… the giveaway!

How to Enter the Giveaway! 

1. Comment on this Instagram photo telling me your favorite Whole Foods product.  
2. Follow @nicoleraudonis on Instagram.
Extra Points: Comment on this blog post why you want to win this giveaway. 

Good luck everyone! 

+ must be in the US to enter | winner will be announced 6/10.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend. I’ll be snapping away, so make sure you’re following along on Snapchat @nicoleraudonis. 

Thank you Whole Foods for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.