Tastes of Springtime: Seasonal Recipes The Whole Family Will Enjoy
Cooking With The Flavors of Spring
As the weather slowly grows nicer and the days grow longer, we can begin to see the rejuvenation of spring arriving. Cravings for warm comfort food are waning. It is time to move away from hearty rich foods and into crisp, fresh, brightly colored foods. How can we begin to freshen up our spring time menu?
See if you can find a farmers market in your area. Supporting local farms is a great way to find a new, fresh items to cook with. An even better way to involve your children is to find pick-your-own farms. My kids are so much more inclined to eat fruits and vegetables if they helped to pick them. If you don’t have any farms near you, another great way to get fresh veggies is through a CSA (community supported agriculture). For a fixed price, you receive a box of fresh seasonal fruits and veggies every week or other fixed time period.
Pasta Primavera
An easy weeknight dinner that your kids will love is Pasta Primavera. It’s also a great way to help get your 5-7 servings of veggies and fruits each day. Ingredients like fresh snap peas, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, and bell pepper all make this meal both colorful and tasty. If you or your kids don’t care for one of these veggies, you can always swap out one for one you like better. Other add-ins can be frozen baby peas (a favorite for most kids), zucchini, or diced celery (this would be a raw add-in at the end). I also like to add a good dose of fiber to the meal by using whole wheat pasta instead of white.
Recipe: HERE
Spring Fruit Salad
A great snack for anytime of day is a Spring Fruit Salad. I pack this in my kids’ lunches most days. I chop up whatever fruit I have picked up at the farmer’s market. I have found that if I chop the fruit into bite sized pieces and add a plastic fork to the lunch box, my kids will eat it up. I always make sure to put the fruit into small plastic reusable containers because I have found that this way, it doesn’t get smashed. For myself, to make it taste extra fresh, I will add some fresh chopped mint and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Recipe: HERE
Lemon Muffins
These muffins are so light and airy, and are so refreshing that they are a perfect reminder of spring. Be sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice, not the kind from a bottle. Your muffins will taste much better! If you or your kids don’t like poppy seeds, just leave them out. These are also great if you add blueberries to them!
Recipe: HERE
Strawberry yogurt parfait
Strawberries are in season in many southern states right now. This delicious fruit great way to make a snack that will help you make it through the afternoon. Layering plain Greek yogurt with granola and strawberries is one way to create this delicious guilt–free treat. A sprinkle of cinnamon or a drizzle of honey will have you forgetting that you are eating such a healthy snack!
Recipe: HERE
Eat well and enjoy!
