Chefs and nutritionists alike have been encouraging us to eat in season for years. By eating seasonally, we are able to get both the freshest available foods for the best prices and get food that is at its nutritional peak, meaning that we are getting a better value for our caloric intake. If you're trying to lose weight, it's an excellent idea to eat your produce in season to increase your dietary variety and to encourage yourself to eat more fruits and veggies. Here are a few powerhouse foods that hit their peak during springtime and tips on how to use them as a part of your healthy diet.
Spring Fruits
Luscious red rhubarb is the first spring "fruit" in many areas, even though it's more of a stalk than a true fruit. Rhubarb is excellent when cooked into jams or pastries. Try making a rhubarb compote to flavor plain yogurt, or pair it with granola and its natural accompaniment, strawberries, for a satisfying dessert.
Despite being grown year-round, strawberries tend to go through their peak season starting in April and heading into June. This is when they are sweetest and at their plump best. Wash and eat strawberries plain, mix them into a smoothie, or pair them with rhubarb or dark chocolate for a decadent yet healthy dessert.
Grapefruit, a dieter's great friend, is also in season during the springtime. Grapefruit's season lasts from January into early summer, so spring is the ideal time to get into this citrus. Add grapefruit to salads for a refreshing twist, mix freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice with sparkling water for a fizzy lift, or just eat it with a little sugar and a spoon.
Spring Vegetables
Asparagus is a favorite spring vegetable, and for a good reason. Asparagus packs a powerhouse of nutrients and fiber into a low calorie package. It comes into season in March and continues through June. To eat it, throw some in a stir fry, broil them with herbs and olive oil, or toss on the grill for a smoky treat.
Young carrots are also a spring favorite, as this is when true "baby" carrots are getting ready for harvest. Use young carrots whole as a delicious and elegant side dish, chop them raw for a salad, or eat them straight up!
Another spring veggie favorite are radishes. Radishes are extremely low calorie, but are rich in ascorbic acid, potassium, vitamin B6, and folic acid. Radishes are most frequently eaten raw, either whole or chopped for salad, but they can be cooked. Look for Asian inspired recipes for cooking radishes.
Most peas, like garden, snap, snow, green, and so forth, are also spring vegetables. Steam some up and garnish with salt for a quick veggie snack, or mix into a stir fry or some pasta for a heartier meal.
No matter which spring produce you enjoy, you are sure to reap significant health benefits. Your weight loss program can benefit greatly from adding a wider variety of fruits and vegetables, and eating seasonally is better for you even if you aren't trying to lose weight.
If you are trying to lose weight, eating seasonally can help, but you should further implement a healthy lifestyle by eating a nutritionally balanced diet and exercising regularly. If regular exercise and healthy food choices don't seem to be helping, there are all natural weight loss supplements that can help your body to work with your weight loss efforts to produce results. Like eating seasonal produce, all natural weight loss supplements use nature to work with your body to create the best version of you.
M. Dwyer is the founder of Healthe Trim, a natural weight loss supplement clinically shown to promote weight loss. Healthe Trim combines natural ingredients such as Hoodia gordonii and green tea leaf extract in order to reduce food cravings and boost energy naturally.
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