What a great feeling after a long winter to be able to throw open the windows, discard a few layers of clothing and catch a few rays of warm spring sunshine. Spring is a time that inspires most of us to wash the windows, clean the car, repaint the fence and give every room in the house a spring clean.
This year don’t forget to take the time to turn your kitchen into a healthy one, re-stock your pantry with nutritious ingredients including spring foods, and make room in the cupboards for healthy cooking equipment.
Spring foods:
Fruits and vegetables that come into season in spring such as grapefruit, Valencia oranges, mandarin, cumquat, melons, pineapple, paw paw, tangelos, strawberries, mango, cherries, asparagus, artichokes, eggplant, peas and cabbage are fabulous to help you spring into shape.
These seasonal foods are a great addition to the basics — breads, cereals, rice, pasta, lean meats, fish, legumes, low-fat dairy products, nuts and just a few drops of healthy oils. They lighten up the kitchen and add variety to your family meals.
Equip a healthy kitchen:
Due to the increasing pace of our ever-changing lifestyles, the demand for quick, nutritious meals and snacks is greater than ever. More stir-fries, pasta and rice dishes, heaps of salads and more healthy snacks are forcing much of the old favourites, in terms of cooking equipment, to the back of the cupboard. Today we need equipment that not only helps us cook in a healthy way, but also ensures that all members of the family can enjoy it no matter what time they come home for dinner.
Equipment checklist:
1. Microwave or electric steamer
2. Rice cooker
3. Non-stick frying pans
4. Food processor/blender
5. Muffin tins
6. Freeze and storage containers
7. Salad spinners
8. Juicer
9. Char-grill
10. Wok and bamboo steamer
