A Guide on Eating During the Spring Season

There are so many beautiful wonders to enjoy about Spring. The feeling of cleansing vibrations and a renewal of energy. We can shake off the yolk of winter, put away the blankets, and step outside into a new version of earth Mother Nature has created during her cold sleep.

The sounds of nature coming to life like birds chirping to welcome the sunrise, squirrels chattering while they play in the trees, and the chorus of singing crickets come out at night once again. The sweet scents and bright colors of new flowers, fresh greenery, refreshing rains, and the smell of wet earth.

At a time when the ground is fertile and yielding the flavors of the season, we like to venture into the local farmer’s market to find the best crops of Spring. The most nutritious and bountiful foods available to us are the in-season fruits and vegetables. These, in their natural gleaning time, provide the highest amount and quality of vitamins and minerals fresh from the soil.

The changing of seasons means we’re sharing what’s on our shopping list with you. Below are our spring picks from the farmer’s market that we’ll be adding to our meals.

What’s In Our Basket?

FRUITS

• Apples
• Apricots
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Kiwi
• Lemons
• Limes
• Pineapples
• Strawberries

VEGETABLES

• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Celery
• Collard Greens
• Garlic
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Peas
• Radishes
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Swiss Chard
• Turnips

SPRING FOODS & YOUR DIGESTION
Many of these seasonal Spring foods contain the best kind of digestive fiber your body needs to keep everything moving smoothly through your system. In addition to fiber, getting plenty of water during the day will contribute to a healthy, functioning digestive system. Lucky for us, Mother Nature provides us with these nutrient-dense crops that also contribute to your overall water consumption, helping with both hydration and digestion.

Some of these foods, pineapple for example, contain digestive enzymes that aid your GI tract in the breakdown of foods high in protein for better absorption of amino acids. Others, such as garlic and bananas, are considered prebiotics that promote the growth of good bacteria and short-chain fatty acids. You need these in your gut so that they can reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and help prevent disease.

FRESHEN UP YOUR FOODS
To add some refreshing character to your new array of fruits and veggies, we’ve also put together a list of herbs that are light on the tongue. These won’t weigh down your palette and will certainly bring a burst of Spring flavor to your plate and are easy to include in any dish.

SPICES & HERBS

• Basil
• Chamomile
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Lemongrass
• Lemon Balm
• Mint
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme

Many of these herbs are also helpful in your digestive process, and overall health. For example, rosemary serves as an antioxidant that can help fight against oxidative stress which can lead to inflammation and illness. Lemongrass shows possible anit-cancer properties, and basil and thyme show promising antimicrobial effects.

Support Your Local Farmers

Supporting your community by buying from local farmer’s markets means that you’re investing in their tools and supplies so that they can continue to bring you and your neighbors quality produce. Shopping with the seasons means you’re consuming the freshest, most nutritious bounty from the earth. Foods are more affordable than out-of-season because they are much easier to find. Good for your pocketbook and your body.

Get Outside and Move Your Body

The weather is warming up and is ripe with the fragrances of new life. Time to take advantage of the beautiful days ahead of us. Move your body in the fresh air to sustain a healthy immune system and keep away any illnesses. Drink in the sunlight and soak in the Vitamin D to help chase away your winter blues. In short, get out and enjoy mother nature - she’s waiting for you!

Julie Weller

Julie is a self-made writer on a forever journey of fitness and health. As a high school music teacher, she has seen and experienced the challenges of maintaining good health while simultaneously balancing a career and healthy relationships.

Julie has always lived a healthy and active lifestyle. She loves the outdoors, hiking, and camping. Over the years she has continued to learn smarter and better ways to take care of her body while continuing to do the things that make her smile. Naturally, all of her teacher friends wanted to know how she did it - what was her secret?

Julie found herself explaining over and over everything she'd learned in her research, and sharing her experiences through trial and error. Her friends would take her advice, try some new things, and then come back to ask how to take it to the next level.

"You should charge for this kind of information!" Became a constant phrase, and so began her career of writing to share her knowledge with the world through health and wellness companies looking to spread healing and healthy habits within their communities. Now Julie gets to combine two of the things she enjoys most - writing and wellness - and use them to affect change in a real way.

When not making music with her kiddos, or writing wellness tips for a higher quality of life, you can find her reading, hiking, drumming, and fitnessing