Spring Cleaning For Your Body!

By Ashley Sturgis, Dietetic Intern

​We all have heard about spring cleaning in terms of your house, but how about spring cleaning for your body?  Here are 4 tips to jumpstart your body and get an extra jolt of nutrition this spring!

1) Curb Your Cravings With Springtime Veggies!
Many refreshing and health boosting veggies are “in season” during the spring.  Vegetables that are in season have a lot more flavor and give you a great health boost!  Veggies also provide some fiber, which helps fill you up and keeps you full longer.  Try adding some spring veggies like asparagus, peas, spinach, chives, or fresh parsley to your breakfast to help kickstart your day!

Veggie Omelette Recipe

2) Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with Springtime Fruits!
Fruits contain many different vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for overall health.  They are also rich in antioxidants, which can help reduce your risk of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, and can reduce inflammation. Try adding some springtime fruits like strawberries, lemons, kiwis, apricots, or pineapples into your diet to help rejuvenate your body and provide some more naturally occurring ingredients!

Lemon Apricot Fruit Pops
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3) Get Everyone Involved!
Kids are more likely to try new foods if they have a hand in helping make them!  Use spring fruits and veggies and create some food art on your plate!  Try some new recipes or have your kiddos pick out something new at the grocery store to try and have them rate it like a food critic!  This can be a fun way to incorporate more variety into your diet.
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Fruit Cookie Pizza Recipe
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4) Try Starting an Herb Garden!
Fresh herbs are very easy to grow and can even be grown in the windowsill!  Herbs can be used to help add great flavor to your food and can help reduce your salt intake.  There are many different herb garden kits that can help jumpstart your garden or you can simply buy some pots and soil and start them on your own!  Pick a spot in your house that gets a lot of light and make sure you give your herbs a lot of love!  Some great herbs to try to grow indoors are: Parsley, oregano, mint, chives, lemongrass, thyme, rosemary, and sage.

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