Spring Clean Your Diet, Transform Your Life
Posted on Mar 06, 2014 by mtrent
Let’s prepare our bodies to fully enjoy all that the warmer months have to offer! Take control. Make a plan and execute it… methodically… Just Do It! Did you know that we should eat a minimum of 3 servings of fruit (2 cups) and 1.25 lbs. of vegetables a day (3 to 6 cups)??!!
It’s finally warming up and I am ready to get outdoors and break my cabin fever! The start of Spring is a great time to ready yourself to enjoy all that the warmer months have to offer. Hiking, biking, golfing, running, swimming,... lakes, beaches, parks, nature trails, gardens, smelling the flowers, catching butterflies. Whatever our pleasure, why not prepare our bodies to fully enjoy it? Many of us do some form of spring cleaning. Whether it’s washing windows and opening them up to air out the house, or dusting off the patio furniture, or rinsing the salt off our vehicles… we prepare our property for enjoyment of the warmer months and longer days of sunshine. With that in mind, I’d like us to spring clean our bodies as well. Here are my recommended steps to spring clean your diet… 3 fruits per day (or ½ cup servings) 1 bunch of greens for 2-3 days 1.25 lbs. of vegetables per day So for a family of 2 people for 5 days of produce you should buy: 30 servings of fruit, 3 or 4 bunches/heads of greens, and 12.5 lbs. of vegetables. It could break down like this: 6 bananas 10 apples 4 oranges 1 quart of strawberries (4 servings) 4 kiwi 1 mango (2 servings) 2 bunches kale 1 head red leaf lettuce 1 head romaine lettuce 1.5 lb. broccoli 1.0 lb. bok choy 1.5 lb. cauliflower 2.0 lb. carrots 0.5 lb. mushrooms 1.0 lb. celery 1.5 lb. onions 2.0 lb. tomatoes 1.5 lb. bell pepper What are you going to do with all of that produce?? Eat it of course!! Chop it raw into your salad, blend it into a smoothie, roast it in the oven, stir fry it, or steam it. Combine it with your favorite whole grain (rice, quinoa), tofu, tempeh, or beans (black, kidney, chickpeas). Don’t forget to sprinkle some nuts and seeds on there. If you need help with recipes, contact me, or go to www.forksoverknives.com. As always, I’m here for you as a resource to coach you and support your spring transformation. I am available via phone, Skype, and email to ensure you a smooth transition and lots of success! In Great Health, Michelle The Joyful Elephant