Spring is such a happy season. It’s finally warming up, and there’s longer days to look forward to. Plus lots of delicious vegetables and fruits are in season! Here’s a few you should check out!
By the way did you know that the spring is coming up? The first day of spring this year is March 20! I love eating in season because 1) It’s better for your health. 2) It tastes better. 3) It’s better for the environment. 4) It’s cheaper! So what’s not to like?
Vegetables
First I’m going to go through some veggies in season! After all I love cooking and veggies are the ingredients I mainly deal with.
Snap Peas, Snow Peas, and Peas
Snap Peas, Snow Peas, and Peas are all in season! This makes sense as they’re all kind of related to each other.
Snap peas are also known as sugar snap peas. They are actually a cross between snow peas and garden peas. You can eat the whole pod similar to snow peas. It has a crunchy texture, and mildly sweet flavor.
They are all packed with nutrients your body needs too!
Snap peas are an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Vitamin K. It’s also a great source of fiber. It contains Beta-carotene, Potassium, Magnesium, and Folate too.
Snow Peas are packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium, dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid, and small levels of healthy fats. They’re also super low in calories, just slightly over 1 calorie per pod.
Peas are a great source of vitamins C and E, zinc, and other antioxidants that strengthen your immune system. It also helps reduce inflammation and lower your risk of chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.
Some recipes you want to try that uses these peas:
Snap Peas Shiitake Mushrooms Stir Fry
Carrots
Carrots are in season and great for you! This veggie is an excellent source of nutrients like potassium, antioxidants, and vitamin A, among many others. Beta – carotene, a type of carotenoid, is the nutrient that turns carrots orange and is also super healthy. This is what converts to vitamin A when consumed.
Here are some recipes to try!
Carrot Ginger Soup (Coconut Base)
Avocado
Technically… avocados aren’t veggies (they’re scientifically a fruit) but I guess to me, I don’t usually eat them like they are a fruit, so I am including them on this list.
Avocados are packed with nutrients and are especially rich in fiber, B6, vitamin C, potassium, vitamin E, folate, and copper.
Eating avocados may help protect against heart disease, improving overall diet quality, and promoting gut health.
Here’s some recipes to try!
Easy Guacamole with Bacon, Tomato, Cilantro
Avocado Dressing Recipe for Salad
Avocado Banana Smoothie Recipe
Spinach
Not everyone’s a fan of Spinach, but for those you that are, you’re in luck because it’s in season!
There’ a reason Popeye ate so much spinach… it’s super healthy for you! It’s low in calories, while being an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, manganese, iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium, and vitamin B6.
Try these yummy spinach recipes:
Pan Seared Salmon with Spinach and Mushrooms
Sausage Egg Muffins (Spinach and Mushrooms)
Lettuce
Yes, I know you can get lettuce all year round… but lettuce is the best in Spring. They make great paleo taco wraps… I mean, just check out this
Check out these tasty lettuce recipes:
Healthy Lettuce Wraps – PF Changs Recipe (Whole30, Paleo)
Asparagus
Asparagus is in season and is super healthy for you! One cup of cooked asparagus has 40 calories, 4 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber and 404 milligrams of potassium. That’s awesome because potassium is good for blood pressure. Asparagus is a nutrient-packed vegetable. It is a very good source of fiber, folate, vitamins A, C, E and K!
Check out these delicious asparagus recipes!
Shrimp with Asparagus Stir Fry
Sautéed Asparagus and Mushrooms
Collard Greens
As mentioned before, I’m from the Atlanta… and here in the South, we like collard greens! Okay, maybe not all of us, but I sure do (goes deliciously with some BBQ!) Check out this Easy Collard Greens with Bacon from Meatified.
Scallions
Scallions (or aka green onions) is another great way to flavor your food. One cup of scallions contains twice the daily recommended amount for adults of vitamin K and about 25% of your daily value for vitamin C!
I recommend chopping it up and using it to flavor your food! If you’re looking for delicious recipes that use scallions? Check these out:
Pan Seared Fish With Ginger, Scallions, and Soy
Pepper Steak with Onion Stir Fry
Beets
I don’t eat beets much, but seeing as it is in season and how healthy they are – I must just start to eat lots soon!
Beets are loaded with potassium, vitamin A, iron, antioxidants, and other healthy nutrients. This veggie is also low in calories so if you’re on a diet, eat away!
Yummy Beets recipes:
Spring Beet Radicchio Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette
Arugula
Arugula is in season in the spring and it’s also healthy for you! Arugula is packed with calcium, potassium, Vitamin C, K, and A!
Here are some tasty Arugula recipes:
Apple, Beet, and Arugula Salad
Onions
I guess it’s more unusual to just eat onions by itself than not, but onions are very healthy for you and a great way to flavor your food… I use it in this Easy Coconut Curry Chicken recipe (one of my faves!)
Here are some other delicious o
Pepper Steak with Onion Stir Fry
Chinese Shrimp and Onion Stir Fry
Fruits
Eat these fruits in Spring! I don’t think I need to provide recipes for these… but if you want some, I can hook you up…just navigate yourself to the contact for and let me know!
- Strawberries
- Mango
- Pineapples
- Lemons
- Grapefruit
- Oranges
- Cherries
- Apricots
- Kiwi
- Honeydew
By the way… You might want to check out which vegetables and fruits you should definitely buy organic (hint: some more importantly than others)! I wrote all about it here.