The spring is a time when many people resolve to make changes to their nutrition and lifestyle. This might be in order to shed those extra pounds that tend to pile on during the colder months when it can be all too easy to stay indoors and comfort eat.
Now that the temptations of Easter and all that chocolate are behind us and the days are longer and warmer, it’s an ideal time to introduce some new foods. Spring is when many native plant-based foods here in the UK are at their freshest and most nutritious, so it is the perfect time to try seasonal eating.
What are the benefits of seasonal eating?
The fruits and vegetables that are harvested and consumed at the peak of their season are at their most dense in nutrients, vitamins and minerals, plus they taste better! That means you will get the full benefits of flavour, texture, and health-giving nutrients.
The more you replace highly processed foods in your diet with fresh produce, the quicker results you will see from your diet plan. Fruit and vegetables are also high in fibre, which helps to fill you up and keeps those snack attacks under control.
Eating seasonal and locally produced foods also helps to support the environment by reducing demand for produce shipped from overseas or grown in heated greenhouses. This lowers carbon dioxide emissions from transportation, storage and distribution, and also reduces the waste from packaging.
Buying locally also supports farmers and the regional economy, and will often save you money as well, because the price isn’t marked up from overseas transportation or out-of-season growing costs.
Which fruit and vegetables are in season in spring?
There's a plentiful choice when it comes to UK spring produce. Aim for a mixture of leafy greens such as spinach, kale, watercress, cabbage and lettuce. These are superfoods that are packed with vitamins and minerals, low in calories and high in fibre.
This makes them ideal for weight loss, because they will fill you up and provide your body with many of its nutritional requirements, whilst making it easier to burn more calories than you consume: the basic starting point of any weight loss programme.
Other seasonal foods that are perfect ingredients for stews, soups, or pasta dishes include potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, spring onion, leeks, pulses, peas, radishes, rocket, asparagus and broad beans.
Visit local farmer’s markets to find the best quality produce, or even have a go at growing your own. Many of these vegetables can be grown in tubs or containers on a patio or balcony if you don’t have a large garden. Plan meals around fresh seasonal produce, and ensure that you have a good balance of fibre, carbs, and protein with each one.
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