I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes… Spring is all around us. And with it comes Spring weekend, Spring break, and Spring superfoods. Nutrient-dense and calorie-poor, these eats will let us dance to some tunes with our friends without skipping a beat. And catch some flirt on the beach.
1. Walnuts
Photo by Shivam Agarwal
After winter’s mineral depletion, we need feel-good sensations. Full of serotonin, these walnuts stabilize your moods and act as an appetite suppressant. The oils in walnuts revive your hair and skin after that 3 month hibernation period when you forgot there even was a sun.
If you want to spruce up your dessert catalogue a little, try apple walnut bars—the on-the-go alternative to apple pie. You can find walnuts at Poppy’s for meal points.
2. Asparagus
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A natural diuretic, asparagus can aid in disposing of unwanted salts to delineate water retention. This vegetable is also full of neurotransmitters that are good for mood. We don’t want you having a fit because someone spilled booze all over your scandals.
Asparagus is easy to cook and sauce up bland meals. One of my favorite things to do with this green is add it to angel hair pasta with some lemon juice. Both simple and healthy. Share with friends for additional social mood-boosting.
3. Spring garlic
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Sickness won’t keep you from being a social butterfly this spring. An immune system booster, garlic fights off germs with its antibiotic effects. This sharp-tasting herb also has a surfeit of iron to restore your blood cells after pounding your feet up and down to your favorite jams.
Incorporating garlic to your salads, or as a tasty spice to yogurt dips and pasta sauce is a great step. Integrate it into your salad vinaigrette, in the dining hall. Just make sure to pop a mint afterwards.
4. Legumes
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No one wants to worry about calories during a let loose, free-spirited spring. High in protein, legumes keep you satiated longer than other foods. This prevents overeating. They also keep your sugar levels in check so you don’t crash after slurping on that piña colada.
Try out lentil, bean, pea, and peanut recipes that taste as good as they look. In the dining hall, beans, peas, and lentils are at the salad bar, and there is a peanut butter station. Eat with fermented foods like sourdough bread or yogurt to avoid bloating.
5. Spinach
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Post-winter your hair is limp, your skin is dry, and your nails are broken. Spinach can reverse all that. An excellent source of vitamins A, B2, C, and K, this nutrient-packed green rejuvenates you for spring weekend. You’ll question whether winter wasn’t just a passing ghost.
Have a spinach-based salad at Jo’s, or grab some spinach to pair with pasta in one of the dinning halls. It also goes great in a smoothie. Before you know it you will be back to flaunting your bouncing locks, healthy nails, and flawless skin.
6. Artichokes
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Spring is a season of celebration. With spring weekend, spring break, and St. Patrick’s Day, it’s also a season of hangovers. Detoxing your body is a must. Artichokes contain cynarin and flavonoid silymarin, which promote liver functions to rid of alcohol and ease hangovers.
Canned artichokes are always featured at the V-Dub salad bar, but try out Whole Foods for the raw ingredient. Turn these into dips that bring out their distinct flavor, or just boil them and pair with lemon butter.
7. Salmon
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We want the looks this spring, but we also the brains. A source of omega-3, this fatty fish speeds up your metabolism and regulates oils in your skin, preventing both blemishes and wrinkles. Eating this fish also improves brain power, to get you on your game for spring midterms.
Try salmon with honey mustard and mango salsa. Around campus, salmon available at the Ratty on occasion, and the Ivy Room on week days. To be sure not to miss it, download the Ratty Alert app, enter the word “salmon,” and you’ll be alerted each time it’s served.
8. Strawberries
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Full of antioxidants and vitamin C, strawberries are a go-to fruit for reduced inflammation, boosted immunity, weight management, and regulated blood pressure. So many benefits in something so small, sweet, and succulent.
These berries go great in oatmeal, granola, and froyo. They also make fruity cocktails. Find strawberries in the daily fruit cups sold in campus eateries or at the Ratty brunch crepe bar. If you don’t like the taste, you can always transform them into a masque.
9. Eggs
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Spring is sure to be full of memories—memories you want to remember, hopefully. Egg yolks, full of choline, aid in memory recollection. So when you tell your crush you think he’s hot and do a keg stand, you won’t need to consult Facebook for all the details.
Eggs are easy to make in the microwave and go great with mushrooms, tomatoes, and just about anything. The omelet bar or hard-boiled eggs in the dining halls are offered for both breakfast and lunch.
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