One staple of a low-calorie and nutritious diet is an abundance of produce. Great as snacks, side dishes and main ingredients, fruits and veggies are rich with fiber, vitamins and antioxidants that fuel your body for total wellness and the activities of daily life.

Shopping in Season

While all produce offers a number of health and other benefits, buying and eating fruits and veggies that are in season is extra helpful. The next time you’re out for a grocery run, consider stopping by a local farmers market to reap some of these stellar advantages:

Nutrition and Flavor:

Seasonal produce is picked when ripe and fully developed, offering higher volumes of antioxidants. Those which have been fully ripened in the sun are crispier, juicier, sweeter, fragrant and colorful — all of which are great for snacking and cooking!

Cheaper Costs:

Prices go down when there is an abundance of a product. Seasonal produce is generally cheaper because there’s a lot of it, and farmers are looking to sell their harvest.

Creativity and Variety:

Choosing seasonal foods challenges you to come up with new and tasty ways to incorporate them into your diet and in your dishes. It expands your recipe book! Plus, variety is advantageous to your body as it exposes you to many different nutrients.

Spring’s Seasonal Harvest

Here’s a  handful of popular and tasty fruits/veggies in season during springtime:

• Asparagus – Great for roasting, sauteing and adding to main dishes
• Strawberries – Tasty on their own or added to yogurt, oatmeal and dressings
• Avocados – A versatile and healthy fat that adds a refreshing touch of creaminess
• Onions – Crunchy on their own and great for cooking with many meats/proteins
• Spinach – Can be used in salads, sandwiches, pastas, wraps and seasoned sides
• Kale – Can be used in salads and smoothies, or baked as crispy chips
• Pineapple – Refreshing on its own and added to salads, drinks and yogurt
• Broccoli – Try it roasted, steamed or sauteed as a side or main ingredient
• Apples – A sweet treat great for salads, wraps, breakfast foods and more
• Lemons – Try them roasted in sheet pan dinners or add them to water
• Mushrooms – They take on the flavor of whatever you cook them with!

Shop Local, Eat Great!

One of the easiest, most fruitful ways to reap the benefits of seasonal produce is to shop at a local farmers market. If you have time, consider grabbing your family for a fun trip and encourage everyone to learn more about where their food comes from. Farmers markets are generally cheaper to shop at and often offer a greater variety of fruits, veggies, homemade treats and more. Visiting one is also a great way to support your community and connect more with your food!