Though there’s not so much to feel positive about right now, let’s look on the bright side. The clocks have called time on the tyranny of short, dark days, and Spring has sprung to herald lighter mornings, evenings and most importantly, meals. The start of any new season, especially Spring, brings the chance for new starts, healthy habits and positive changes in our life. With that in mind, here are 5 IDEAL tips for healthy eating this Spring.
START A GROW-YOUR-OWN REVOLUTION
Vegetable gardens are surprisingly holistic in their health benefits. The most obvious, of course, is an access to freshly grown produce picked at the height of its potential and free from pesticides. But that’s just the beginning; gardening can actually bring equivalent benefits to the heart and waistline as a session does in the gym. And its capacity to boost mental wellbeing shouldn’t be sniffed at either (unless the hayfever out there has got you). It’s been cited in countless studies as a stress reliever and low mood lifter.
But we’re here to talk about food. April represents the most ripe and fertile time to sow some seeds, with beetroot, carrots, leeks, lettuce, potatoes, parsnips and peas all traditionally entering the soil this month. The perfect excuse to get growing, we think.
SPRING CLEAN YOUR GO TO MEALS
Sometimes it seems like the only comfort in the cold and callous winter months is found at the bottom of a bowl of heavy, hearty comfort food. And after four months of nightly carbs and calories, it’s difficult to stop our muscle memory from reaching for the ingredients for yet another stew.
It’s a good idea to use the arrival of Spring as an excuse to spruce up your go to meal options to fit in with the lighter, warmer tone of the season. So, it’s time to do away with the low and slow braises, deep bowls of pasta and burnished pies which all cried out for hunks of crusty break. In their place, fresh, light vegetables….
EMBRACE THE SHOOTS OF A NEW SEASON
Oh asparagus, how we’ve missed you. And before all the other emergent vegetables get even greener with envy, we’re equally as stoked to be cooking with new season spring (clue’s in the name) onions, rocket, watercress, purple sprouting broccoli, new potatoes and wild garlic. Cooking with all the new produce of the season can be refreshing after the heavier tubers and starchy veg of winter. Harness this inspiration to create some new, healthy dishes full of vitality.
EVERYTHING IN MODERATION
Though we’re extolling the virtue of fresh starts, clean living and healthy eating, of course we’re not suggesting a new found life of asceticism and abstinence. We think the key to a happy life isn’t to cut out the indulging altogether, but to adopt an ‘everything in moderation’ mantra. While you’ll constantly hear about the latest fad diets, new opinions on superfoods, and benefits of keto supplements even, we think the best approach is to simply eat well, happily and healthily, honing in on getting plenty of things which are good for your health rather than obsessively sidestepping those which aren’t.
USE A NEW SEASON AS THE REASON TO EMBRACE MINDFUL EATING
Ironic, isn’t it? A meal can be the most nourishing, fulfilling and fun part of the day, the part you’ve planned, looked forward to and prepared so enthusiastically. Yet when that plate hits the table, we wolf it down as though eating’s an annoyance.
We’re doing it so wrong. Instead of treating your dinner as an obstacle to Twitter, tele or typing that we can’t wait to dispense with, embrace a mindful approach to our mealtimes. In doing so, you’ll eat with more savour and relish. And to us, that’s the healthiest approach of all.
*This article is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment given by a qualified health professional. Instead, this article only provides information, not advice. For any medical enquiries, always consult your GP first*