Embrace Refreshing Springtime Flavors

After a long, dragging winter, many of us are eager to emerge from hibernation and enjoy everything spring has to offer. Think about tulips blooming, trees blossoming, grass turning green, little hatchlings, and even the satisfying task of spring cleaning! Spring is a wonderful time of year. With longer days and the sun bringing new inspiration, it’s time to tackle those New Year’s resolutions we set in January, especially the ones involving weight loss.

Although spring officially starts on March 20, 2013, at 7:02 am EDT (not that we’re counting!), it’s a great time to start looking ahead and get excited. What delicious spring meals and menus are you planning?

Start with a Spring Detox
Spring is ideal for detoxing. During the winter, we tend to eat heavier, richer foods to stay warm and maintain energy. To get ready for spring’s lighter, more invigorating foods, consider doing a detox. One of the quickest and safest ways to cleanse your body is through a juice fast. Hip Urban Girl offers a convenient juice cleanse with a variety of juices tailored for detoxification. Just be aware, you might experience a detox headache as your body lets go of accumulated winter toxins. If you prefer making your own juices, here are some recipes to get you started.

Enjoying Spring Foods
After detoxifying and shaking off that sluggish feeling, it’s time to introduce energizing, healthy spring foods into your diet. Shopping locally at farmers’ markets and co-ops ensures you’re eating in-season produce. Some great options include strawberries, apricots, asparagus, spinach, beets, sweet peas, and onions. Need inspiration? Check out these 10 quick and easy spring dinner recipes, each taking under 30 minutes to prepare.

Spring and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
In TCM’s Five Element Theory, spring is associated with the element of wood, which corresponds to the liver and gallbladder. Many of the spring foods and juices focus on detoxifying and rejuvenating these organs. Green is the color of both spring and the wood element, symbolizing new growth. The Yang (active) nature of spring is also a time to release anger, the emotion linked with the liver.

Hopefully, you’re as excited about the renewal that spring brings as we are. Let this season inspire positive changes in your life and diet. Here’s to a happy and healthy spring!