Without fail, springtime triggers a desire in most of us to become more active and health-conscious.
Whether inspired to shed that unwanted bit of “winter weight” or to become (re) energized for the cycling paths and tennis courts, we can lighten our diets during the warmer months without losing flavour and gastronomic appeal. Spring brings fresh, local produce to the market; gives endless possibilities for light, colourful salads; and allows us to step outside and enjoy eating and entertaining around the grill.
Here are some tips and recipes sure to help lighten and brighten the springtime menu:
Fresh Fare
Locally grown fresh produce is never more abundant than in the warmer months of spring and early summer. Consider exploring local farmers markets (where the “best of the best” produce is on display) as a wonderful addition to the spring and summer weekend routine. Not only do farmers markets inspire more flavourful, healthful and appealing purchases, but also browsing them is an active, engaging experience, which stimulates all of the senses.
The easiest way to appreciate the flavours of fresh spring fruits and vegetables is by eating them “raw”. Fruit can be served sliced on its own or mixed with berries in a bowl and accompanied by a lightly-sweetened yogurt. Vegetables can be served as crudités with light, savoury dips. Taking preparation and presentation a step or two further (without adding heavy creams, sauces, sugars or oils) can involve baking, poaching, stewing or flambéing fruits and steaming, broiling, roasting or grilling vegetables. Most produce holds its fresh flavour when simply prepared, and requires little augmentation apart from fresh herbs and spices (which can be used in abundance to add flavour without fat or calories). Some of the more popular spring fresh fruits and vegetables are strawberries, asparagus, green beans, rhubarb, corn and fresh greens.
Here are a few simple recipes to consider for enjoying the light, fresh flavours of spring produce:
If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious in terms of preparation time, what could be more apt for spring than…well…spring rolls? Try our recipe for Thai Cold Spring Rolls. The rice paper wrappers are incredibly light and can be filled with any number of thinly-sliced fresh ingredients and dipped into just about any tangy, spicy, or sweet’n’sour sauce.
Salad Days
Keeping in mind the springtime availability of fresh ingredients, salads are ideal crisp, cool and refreshing (though there are many recipes for warm, heartier salads) menu items for the warmer months of the year. Whether presented as meal-accompaniments/appetizers or meals within themselves, salads offer endless possibilities for healthful, colourful and delectable combinations. Apart from a bit of creativity combined with some chopping, slicing and dicing, salads are generally easy to prepare. And, with an array of zesty, tangy, fresh and light dressings/toppings, they are ideal choices for lightening the spring menu: packing fiber and nutrients, while at the same time containing an abundance of flavour.
Here are some choice springtime salad recipes:
Feeling creative? Impress your dinner guests with the presentation of this light, unique, yet relatively simple spin on salad: Salad ‘Bouquet’ with Cucumber Vase and Roasted Tomatoes.
Get Your Grill On
When the weather starts to warm up, it’s not long before grilling season takes hold. What better way to watch the waistline than by eliminating a lot of rich, fatty cooking oils and allowing food to take on the enhanced flavour of the grill? Not only are grilled foods cooked more quickly and easily because of radiant heat and visibility of food, but they also generally have a lower fat content and retain greater nutritional value (and did we mention the flavour?!).
Meats are probably the more commonly thought of and traditionally grilled foods, though with some foresight and creativity, virtually anything that can be prepared in an oven or on a stove can be prepared on the grill. In fact, grilling adds more possibilities! To keep things on the lighter side, consider searching out recipes for extra-lean cuts of meat, chicken breasts, fish (salmon, tuna and trout are excellent on the grill), seafood (shrimp, scallops), vegetables, tofu and even fruit, which becomes uniquely flavourful when grilled.
Here are some of our lighter fare suggestions for great grilling:
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