Seasons form the natural backdrop for eating. All of the world's healthiest foods are seasonal. Imagine a vegetable garden in the dead of winter. Now imagine this same garden on a sunny, summer day. How different things are during these two seasons of the year! People are constantly asking me, what's the best diet? How can I feel more in balance? My reply is easy; start tuning in to the natural cycles of nature and eat what is available. To enjoy the full nourishment of food, you must make your menu a seasonal one. In different parts of the world, and even in different regions of the country, seasonal menus can vary. For instance, I live in Upstate, NY. There are certain foods that just can't be a part of my diet. Things like pineapples or tomatoes in the winter. This just isn't going to happen. However, there are loads of foods that are grown in my neck of the woods that I gladly welcome as part of my diet.
As we prepare to welcome spring, so too should we welcome the foods that come along with it. In winter we are all about hibernation and eating foods that make us feel warm, cozy and secure like soups, stews and root vegetables. It's very normal for us to even put on a few pounds in the winter to aid in insulation. But as spring approaches our bodies naturally want to shed those pounds and feel lighter. In Chinese medicine, lighter foods are filled with the energy of spring and particularly useful as we enter this season. It also is appropriate during spring to avoid heavy foods, since they tend to bring the body into a sinking, passive, inward-moving state.
As you can see, now is the time to stock your fridge full of spring like foods. Things like greens- zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, spinach, greens, green beans and Asian greens such as bok choy, are a source of chlorophyll which may help to support detoxification. If you are interested in finding out what is in season in your part of the country, try using Sustainable Tables "What's in season guide": http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/seasonal/
Happy spring!