This beautiful weather has us all dreaming of vegetable gardens, planting flowers, and picking berries! Here are some ideas to ponder as we think about how springtime can impact our diet.
Veg out in the morning. A savory breakfast gives you an opportunity to weave in a serving of veggies first thing in the morning. This can also help you to meet your daily quota of 2-3 cups. Try a veggie omelet, add spinach or peppers to your egg sandwich or burrito, throw some dark greens into a smoothie, or top your whole-wheat toast with tomatoes, cucumber and avocado!
Make one additional healthy choice every day. Even a small tweak like having an extra serving of vegetables, or choosing nuts instead of chips for a snack, can significantly boost your health. Try trading soda for water, go meatless one day a week, swap white rice/pasta for a whole grain like farro, etc.
Snack from the fridge. Generally, you find the less processed snacks in the refrigerator – fruits, vegetables, yogurt, hummus, cheese, etc. Things like chips, crackers, and candy typically reside in the pantry. So next time you feel a craving for a snack – start by checking the fridge. Take it a step further, and ensure that your refrigerator is stocked with easy to grab snacks like hard boiled eggs, sliced vegetables, string cheese, etc.
Wait 5 minutes. If you’re tempted to grab a piece of chocolate when you walk by a co-workers desk, try telling yourself you can have it in 5 minutes. Then go do something else, drink some water, etc. Much of the time your craving will pass on its own.
Savor the flavor. Ice cream and cheeseburgers aren’t the only foods that taste good! Think about perfectly ripe strawberries or freshly picked asparagus. Take some extra time to notice these flavors and enjoy those healthy foods! Generally this can leave you feeling more satisfied after finishing a meal.