Food for Thought: Choosing the Right Spring Foods

healtySpring is here again and it's time to take advantage of all those great springtime fruits and vegetables. Here's how to choose the best ones:

Right Spring Foods

• Apricots : slightly soft, not bruised
• Artichoke : compact head, bright green color
• Asparagus : closed and compact tips, bright green stalks
• Avocado : should be a little “give” when squeezed
• Carrots : crisp, healthy tops
• Collard Greens : dark green, vibrant color
• Mango : more orange/red than green
• New Potatoes : last only a few days
• Pineapple : sniff the bottom for sweet aroma, check for firmness
• Rhubarb : check for bright, crisp stalks
• Spinach : avoid dried out or yellow stems
• Strawberries : pick fragrant, slightly soft ones
• Sugar Snap/Snow Peas : bright green, should feel like they have a snap (not limp)

And while you are grabbing those great spring fruits and vegetables, it's also time to get rid of some of those bad foods, too!

While they may be quick and easy, oftentimes processed foods are causing you more harm than good.  If you are looking to get healthy and lose some weight in the process, then you must get rid of these processed foods.

• Flavored yogurt
• Fat free potato chips
• Diet soda
• Instant oatmeal
• Packaged egg whites
• Bottled barbeque sauces
• Bottled salad dressings
• Sugar free candy bars
• Multi-grain tortilla chips