Photo by T. Mike Fletcher
One of the best ways to improve your diet is by incorporating fresh produce. “You really cannot go wrong with vegetables,” says local dietician Jennifer McDaniel, of McDaniel Nutrition Therapy. “If you can fill half your plate with vegetables, it not only provides important nutrients, but it also contains a lot of water and fiber to make you feel full.”
When choosing your produce, one factor to pay attention to is whether or not that produce is in-season, which can have several benefits. Foods can lose moisture when they are shipped or raised in hothouses, so locally grown, in-season produce often has more flavor. Also, in-season produce is generally less expensive due to availability.
Although winter doesn't seem like an ideal time to harvest, there are several vegetables that are in-season now through early March, including asparagus, spinach, and sweet potatoes. Check out these five healthy recipes from St. Louis At Home's Reicpe Index that incorporate some of this season's freshest produce.
