Guest article by Anna Knueppel, dietary intern
Spring is the best time of the year for planting, growing, and picking fresh fruits and vegetables. As we age, our dietary needs change. It can be a challenge to consume all the important nutrients needed on a day to day basis.
One way to receive these essential nutrients is to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables that are fresh and in-season to our diets. There are many fresh fruits and vegetables that are in-season at this time of the year.
Here are a few examples:
- Asparagus
- Carrots
- Cherries
- Grapefruit
- Mangos
- Peas
- Pineapple
- Potatoes
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
- Spinach
Recipe: Spring Smoothie
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup frozen mango cubes
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
- 1 container (5.3 oz) greek yogurt
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Starting with the spinach, combine all ingredients in a blender or Nutribullet and blend until smooth. Add water if needed to make the smoothie less thick. Enjoy!
- Berries: Full of fiber, Vitamin C and potassium to keep our immune system strong
- Asparagus: Full of fiber that keeps the digestive system running smoothly, and has folate that aids in memory processes
- Beets and Carrots: Rich in Vitamin A which keeps the eyes bright and the skin clear
Incorporating many fresh fruits and vegetables will make us healthy, more energized and full of powerful, essential nutrients!