The Joy of Spring: A celebration of seasonal eating and the flavors of the season

Benefits of eating seasonally 

Have you ever noticed that a piece of produce tastes fresher at a farmers market? Seasonal food is picked and purchased around the time of harvest. It tends to be tastier than produce that’s picked out of season. That’s because if fruits or vegetables are picked when not ready yet, or have to travel long distances, they won’t be in peak ripeness. 

Foods that are grown and eaten during their peak season are also more nutritious than the out of season stuff. Once produce is removed from the plant, it starts to break down. This includes nutrients. In one study, the vitamin C content of broccoli grown during the fall, had almost double that of broccoli grown off season (1). 

Seasonal eating can also help encourage a more varied diet (2). Getting a variety of different vitamins, minerals and nutrients is much easier when you include a lot of different colorful plants on your plate.

Spring seasonal foods

Asparagus 

This green stalk is stocked with health benefits! It’s one of the few prebiotics, which feeds the good bacteria in our intestine. It’s also rich in folate and other B vitamins which can prevent heart disease. It contains sulfur compounds which can help prevent some types of cancer (3). 

Flavor of the season recipe: Green Asparagus Soup with Fish Roe

Fava beans

This is part of the plant family, called legumes, which are known to provide protein and help lower blood pressure and blood sugar. They are rich in soluble fiber, which helps improve digestion and lower cholesterol levels (4). They are also beneficial for our bone health because they’re rich in manganese and copper, two minerals that can prevent bone loss (5). 

Flavor of the season recipe: Toasted Fava Beans 

Snap peas 

Sugar snap peas are naturally sweet and an excellent source of vitamin K. Vitamin K helps us absorb and use calcium, so our bones are strong! Snap peas are great snacks on the go or a perfect addition to stir-fry like this one: 

Flavor of the season recipe: Sesame Broccoli with Japanese Soy

Kale

Oh kale yeah, this hearty green has lots of perks! Kale is packed with micronutrients and anti-aging antioxidants. It’s part of the cruciferous vegetable family which can benefit heart health. It’s also rich in immune support and collagen building vitamin C (6). 

Flavor of the season recipe: Polenta with Mushrooms and Kale

Apricots

Alongside peaches, plums, nectarines, and cherries, apricots are a stone fruit known for its hard seed inside. These bright orange fruits are rich in beta-carotene which is a powerful antioxidant. They are also rich in powerful nutrients called lutein and zeaxanthin, which keep our eyes healthy so we can look at all the beautiful spring flowers (7). 

Flavor of the season recipe: Grilled Apricots 

Strawberries 

Strawberries have high water content, which makes them a lower calorie fruit. They are rich in vitamin C which will make your skin glow in the springtime sun. They’re also loaded with potassium which can support blood pressure and keep us hydrated (8). 

Flavor of the season recipe: Strawberry Yogurt Parfait

Herbs 

You may not think of herbs when you think of seasonal springtime produce but these little vegetables pack a big nutritional punch. In addition to vitamins and minerals, they’re also rich in polyphenols which protect us from harmful environmental effects such as pollution. 

Flavor of the season recipe: Herb Wheat Berry Risotto

Make your spring the best yet by getting healthy with Lifesum!