Spring Cleaning (Nutrition Style)

By Cassidy Warne

The chirping birds and blooming flowers are sure signs that we are stepping into spring. Let’s chat about Spring Cleaning, nutrition style. No, I am not talking about juice cleanses or the latest fad diets. I’m talking about kickstarting healthy habits and detoxing with REAL food. Spring is full of fresh fruits and vegetables and is the prime time to track down local Farmer’s Markets or spend a little bit more time in the produce section of the grocery stores.

Eating in-season produce is possible year-round, but spring and summer provide the greatest variety of in-season produce available. The perks include enhanced flavor, nutrition, and affordability. So, what’s in season?

                         Apples                                     Peas

                        Apricots                                   Pineapple

                        Asparagus                               Radish

                        Bananas                                  Spinach

                        Cabbage                                  Strawberries

                        Carrots                                     Swiss Chard

                        Celery                                      Turnips

                        Collards

                        Garlic

                        Mushrooms

                        Onions

The benefits of increasing fruit and vegetable intake in the diet are endless. However, it is important to practice proper food safety when consuming fresh produce. It is important to store fruits and vegetables away from raw meats, poultry, and seafood. When preparing fresh produce, wash your hands thoroughly and, if consuming the peels of produce, follow by scrubbing fruits and vegetables with a vegetable brush to remove dirt and debris. After preparing, fresh fruits and vegetables should be refrigerated within 2 hours.

As part of the Dietetic Internship at SLU, we have the opportunity to teach nutrition education to students throughout the city. Throughout the lessons, we discuss healthy eating habits, physical activity, and gardening. We have garden plots at the schools which allow us to demonstrate how to plant a garden, provide care to help the plants grow, how to harvest, and prepare the produce safely. Throughout the spring semester, we have been growing a variety of vegetables that we will harvest and safely prepare for a salad party with the students at the schools. The students seem to enjoy the activities and gardening experience, and it has been very rewarding as an intern.

Whether you have your own garden, visit the local Farmer’s Market, or explore the fresh produce in grocery stores, we are entering prime fruit and vegetable season. This is the perfect time to focus on healthy eating habits and enjoy the flavors and health benefits of fresh produce by spring cleaning your diet!