I am sure we’ve all been there, the sun starts to come out, and we find ourselves being a bit more health-conscious with summer being right around the corner. Spring can be a great time to get a hold of your health and start working toward living a better, healthier lifestyle. Fresh fruits and veggies are arriving at your local farmers’ markets, and you should take advantage of all the health benefits that they provide. We’ve put together five ways to help you eat healthier this season.
Grab spring vegetables.
Vegetables offer a wide variety of nutrients, making it extremely beneficial to add different types to your diet. Try out some of spring’s first vegetables! These include:
- Peas
- Green Beans
- Asparagus
- Artichokes
- Radishes
- Salad Greens
- Carrots
Adding these foods to your diet will give you extra nutrients such as Vitamin E, Iron, and even glucosinolates that can help protect against certain cancers. Take a weekend trip to your local farmers’ market and pick up some of these fresh veggies of the season.
When snacking, choose options from the fridge.
What does your pantry mainly consist of? For many of us, when looking into our cupboards or pantry, we grab crackers or chips. These aren’t the healthiest snack that you should be leaning to. If you allow yourself to only snack out of the fridge, you’ll often choose healthier options. Things such as fruits and veggies or even yogurt are good for you and will leave you feeling good inside.
I like to cut up my veggies and put them into Tupperware in the fridge on Sunday, so when I’m grabbing a snack throughout the week, it’s easy for me to grab quickly. You can make easy rollups with deli meat or even hard boil some eggs to munch on throughout the week as well. Having healthy options in an easy-to-grab area will make you more prone to grab them vs. the bag of chips!
Start your own garden.
There are so many benefits to gardening. It’s a great hobby to have and gives you some time to yourself or can be a fun activity with your spouse or kids. We recommend planting some easy veggies or even just having a small herb garden. This way, you have healthy options readily available when you need them, and don’t choose the easier option of ordering out. You can just grab from the garden! Having your own herb garden can even up the nutritional value of your foods.
Did you know that herbs such as parsley, oregano, and basil contain tons of antioxidants? Peppermint also helps aid against IBS pain and can reduce nausea. There are so many benefits to herbs that you could easily grow at home!
Hydrate more.
An easy way to help you to avoid overeating is to up your water intake. We can often find ourselves being confused on being hungry or thirsty. Having a large glass of water can be exactly what you need to hold you over until your next meal. Plus, hydrating more often is essential to help regulate your body temperature, making sure your organs continue to function properly, and so much more!
Choose mindfully.
Be mindful of the foods that you choose. To start with this, try to “spring clean” your pantry and fridge, throw out the junky food that doesn’t make your body feel well. Make it a goal to cook more at home. This way you know exactly what is getting put into your food, and you can try new recipes that you may not have otherwise.
Spring brings out happiness to all, the sun is shining, and birds are chirping. You may even begin seeing some spring colors show up on your trek to work. Let this spring lead you toward a healthier lifestyle and keep you feeling good!