Why Eating Seasonally Matters + 4 Nourishing Spring Recipes

Written By Taylor

It is officially spring, which means it’s time for spring cleaning! But we don’t just mean your house. This is the season for a new glow, and boosting your nutrients with spring produce is a great way to cleanse and support your body.

Eating seasonally isn’t always possible or preferred. We love snacking on blueberries year-round, and pineapples can hit the spot in the dead of winter. But it’s still a good idea to work seasonal fruits and veggies into your diet whenever possible.

a stack of fresh vegetables in crates at a farmers market. There are carrots, spring onion, radishes, cabbages, kale, beets, and more.

Mother Nature Gives Us the Right Nutrients at the Right Time

Mother Nature knows what we need and when we need it. And she gives it to us in fresh-picked seasonal produce. Spring produce, such as kale and asparagus, contains compounds that help relieve allergies. Summer fruits and veggies, like cucumbers and watermelon, are filled with electrolytes so you don’t dehydrate in the heat. Fall produce, such as cranberries and pumpkin, gives you big doses of flu and cold-fighting nutrients. And Winter vegetables, like butternut squash and oranges, keep those virus-fighting nutrients coming while also giving concentrated vitamins and minerals to hold you over until the plentiful produce starts blooming. It’s honestly beautiful how nature takes care of us.

Produce is also healthier when it’s grown in the right environment and is fresh off the tree or vine. When you buy something out of season, it’s either grown in a greenhouse with an altered environment, or it’s shipped from hundreds or thousands of miles away. Most fruits and vegetables lose at least 30% of their nutrients only three days after picking. Some things, like spinach, can lose 90%. So naturally, locally grown produce is going to be much more nutrient dense.

A List of Our Favorite Spring Fruits and Vegetables

a woman standing in a garden, holding a hand full of fresh asparagus. She is wearing a gray sweater, and you cannot see her face.

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Your local farmer’s market or CSA will offer you the freshest picks. But if you’re shopping at your local grocery store instead, look for these springtime favorites:

  1. Artichokes

  2. Arugula

  3. Asparagus

  4. Avocado

  5. Broccoli

  6. Carrots

  7. Garlic Scapes

  8. Grapefruit

  9. Kiwi

  10. Mango

  11. Peas

  12. Rhubarb

  13. Spring Onions

  14. Strawberries

  15. Sugar Snap Peas

  16. Tomatoes

  17. Zucchini

Spring Clean Your Diet With These 4 Recipes

1.) PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH PEAS, CHANTERELLES, AND DILL-CHIVE SAUCE

This mouth-watering dinner will absolutely impress your family and friends. It is chock full of nutrients like omega-3, protein, vitamins C, A, K, and more. It also features the springtime herbs dill and chives.

2.) Avocado Asparagus Tartine

This snack or hors d'oeuvre is a healthy way to curb your appetite until the main course. The healthy fats and fiber keep you full, and it’s surprisingly simple to make.

3.) Spring Vegetable Fettuccine Alfredo

When you’re craving comfort food and don’t want to skip the veggies, this meal will hit the spot. It only takes 30 minutes to whip up and it’s packed with asparagus, chives, and peas.

4.) Anna Jones’ California Salad

This nutrient-dense macro bowl will push you through the 2pm slump, and it features two of our favorite spring veggies, avocado and broccoli.

This story’s featured image is by Gustavo Fring.



Taylor

Taylor is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience telling stories that matter. She founded A Calm Wild because she believes that real wellness isn't found in perfection — it's found in nature, in nourishing food, and in a life lived intentionally.