Spring Food Rx: Eating for Renewal, Vibrancy and Enhanced Health

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“You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.”
— Ziggy

8 Tips for Spring Eating: Can You Taste It? 

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Small changes in your diet can help your body release excess winter qualities and prepare for spring.

  1. Eat light, easily digestible meals. 
  2. Eat bitter, pungent & astringent foods.
  3. Add Parsley, celery, asparagus, coriander, cumin, corn to help drain excess fluids. From the body.
  4. Add radishes known for fat metabolism.
  5. Drink warming teas, such as ginger, cinnamon, dandelion.
  6. Sprinkle Turmeric on vegetables or make a daily tonic in hot water with lemon and honey to help re-invigorate the blood and refresh circulation. 
  7. Add a squirt of lemon to all your meals or at least squeeze into your water each morning.
  8. Eliminate sugar. Try raw honey as a sweetener instead.
 

In the Kitchen: Spring Clean Raw Beet, Carrot, & Apple Salad

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Ingredients:
2 medium carrots, peeled
1 large red beet, peeled
1 large golden beet, peeled
1 apple (sweet variety), chopped
1 garlic clove, minced (or less if you are not a garlic fan)
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Red pepper flakes, to taste (I used a couple shakes)
1/2 tbsp pure maple syrup, to taste
Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste (I used about 1/4 tsp salt)
2-3 tbsp Sesame seeds
3-4 tbsp Chopped almonds

Directions:

  1. Trim, peel, and grate the carrots and beets. You can use a food processor with a grater attachment if preferred). Chop apple and place the grates beets, carrot, and chopped apple into a large bowl.
  2. Assemble the dressing by whisking together the minced garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, red pepper flakes, maple syrup, salt, and pepper. Adjust dressing to taste. Pour the dressing onto the vegetables and mix well. Allow sitting for at least a half hour so the flavors can develop.
  3. Add in your desired seeds and nuts and serve chilled or at room temperature over a bed of greens. Makes 2 servings.

(Adapted from Chocolate & Zucchini, recipe and photo borrowed from ohsheglows.com)