The Springtime has us carrying iced lavender lattes in our hands, out in parks with perfect weather and high pollen counts, and of course, passionately re-organizing our kitchen cabinets. We’re cleaning out our desks, reducing our closet size, and finally un-clogging our drains, but what about our fridges? Yes, actual cleaning of the appliance is always a good idea (here are some tips from the cleaning Queen herself, Martha Stewart). But what about the food itself?
Starting off the year with healthy eating can be one of the most helpful spring cleaning activities to do for yourself. Eating clean can give you increased energy, enhanced mood, and the ultimate gain, a longer life. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by starting in your own kitchen and with your own groceries. Although it may seem daunting, cleaning up your diet doesn’t have to be difficult, and you may even have fun in the process.
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Go Green
Our bodies are coming back from the great green withdrawal of winter. Even the absence of color has a negative effect on our bodies. The color green has always been good to us humans, which is why Spring can be such a relief! Let the trees inspire you! Go as green as the landscape. Fill your fridge with foods like broccoli, spinach, kale, and avocado. The physical benefits of eating these foods are almost magical, with heart healthy and even anti-aging properties, and your fridge will look prettier too!
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‘Tis the Season to Eat in Season
If you feel a little lost as to what foods are best to put in your fridge, why don’t you check what’s in season? This can help you plan your meals and see what produce will be fresh and ready for you to buy. One of the big complaints you hear about eating healthy is that it can be too expensive, but it doesn’t have to be! If you buy seasonally, your fruits and veggies will be way cheaper, not to mention fresher, with a better taste. This website gives you a good heads up on what may be available to get at your local farmers market.
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Farmers Markets!
Fill your fridge with foods from farmers markets! Eating locally is a fail-safe way to get fresh ingredients, and it’s also generally safer. Let your fears of E. coli outbreaks in bagged spinach become a thing of the past. Have your spinach handed to you in a nice paper wrap by the farmer that grew it themselves! Most food in farmers markets is minimally processed, with the produce picked right before. You will also be supporting your local economy, contributing to you community, and shopping environment-friendly!
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Throw Out The Trash
By this I mean, get rid of all your distracting go-to junk food. If they aren’t there to look at, you’ll be encouraged to pick a healthier option. Instead of potato chips, how about sea-salted plantain strips? You can also swap out candy for dried mango, or eat raw nuts like almonds and cashews for protein, or even a boiled egg for a quick and filling snack. Check out this page for more ideas.
“Clean Eating” doesn’t have to mean anything specific. Foods are not inherently clean or dirty. But mindfulness in the way you consume is never a bad idea. If you are going to give your fridge a good Martha Stewart-style sweep, try to load it up again with whole and natural foods. You will be killing two birds with one stone, and you can still enjoy that iced lavender latte knowing that you’ll have a dinner that is composed of whole and natural foods.