Spring Clean Your Eating Habits
By Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Although it may not feel like it in the Midwest, spring is right around the corner! As the temperatures go up and the days get longer, you may be getting started on your spring cleaning.
It’s a perfect time to also think about spring cleaning your eating habits. You can reassess your current routine, set new goals, and incorporate new practices. Here are some ways to start your spring on a good foot.
Clean and organize your kitchen
Add a deep clean of your fridge, pantry, and kitchen appliances to your spring-cleaning checklist. Vacuum drawers and shelves, wipe down counters, clean appliances and frequently touched surfaces, and scrub out your sink.
Next, take stock of what you have in your fridge and pantry. Use foods with an upcoming expiration date as soon as possible and move items that you want to use to the front of your pantry so you don’t forget them. If you are running low on healthy pantry staples, such as extra virgin olive oil, whole grains, beans, and nuts and seeds, add them to your grocery list.
Stock up on spring fruits and veggies
Some great spring vegetables include asparagus, peas, radishes, artichokes, herbs, and leafy greens. Depending on your location, fruits like strawberries and cherries may also be coming into season during this time of year. Choose at least one recipe per week that uses a spring fruit or vegetable and browse a local farmers market for new options.
Rhubarb, the pink stalk that resembles celery but has a tart flavor, is available in the spring. Strawberry and rhubarb are often combined in baked goods and sweets, but there are plenty of healthier recipes that use these ingredients. You can use them to make chia pudding, overnight oats, salsas, and even savory sauces for fish.
Cook more at home
If you have been relying on takeout more than usual, the change of seasons is a great time to reassess this habit and commit to cooking more at home. You can make cooking more exciting by incorporating in-season produce and choosing lighter, warm-weather dishes to replace winter stews and casseroles.
A little bit of meal prep can go a long way. Try spending an hour or two on the weekend to prep a healthy protein (like shredded chicken), chop fruits and vegetables to have on hand for meals, and cook a whole grain to add to recipes throughout the week.
Fuel up on movement
Spring is the start of warmer weather, which can make exercise more appealing to many people. In addition to making commitments to healthy eating, increasing physical activity is a great way to spring clean your routine. Take the stairs more often, train for a spring 5k race, add in short bursts of activity, and get your heart rate up by meeting friends for a walk instead of coffee.
Note from Healthy For Life Meals: The start of a new season is a great time to start one of our healthy meal plans! We provide nutritionally balanced meals that are freshly made with great-tasting ingredients. Choose from our traditional or vegetarian options.