Happy spring! Today on ABC Tampa’s Morning Blend, I share four simple ways to spring clean your diet so you can feel your best as we head into warmer weather!
Tip 1: Spring clean your beverages by focusing on nutrient-dense options.
Replace sugar-sweetened beverages with nutrient-dense options like Florida Orange Juice which contributes vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. A common misconception about orange juice is that it’s jam-packed with added sugars. In truth, 100% orange juice contains NO added sugars, and the sweetness you taste is from naturally occurring sugars that develop as oranges grow. A glass of 100% orange juice can help keep you hydrated. It contains electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and calcium so it’s great to drink a glass after a workout to replenish your body with the fluids lost through sweat. Add it to smoothies, homemade salad dressings, or baked goods for a boost of nutrition and to help reach your daily fruit intake recommendation. Make a super simple salad dressing by whisking together 2/3 cup of Florida orange juice, 1 tbsp of olive oil, 1/4 tbsp of white wine vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Another nutritious beverage option is plant-based milk. Mooala is a plant-based milk company whose products are made with organic, clean ingredients – making them the perfect drink for the whole family. Unlike many other almond milks on the market, Mooala’s Original Almondmilk actually tastes amazing. It is naturally sweetened with honey and is low in sugar. Mooala ?is best known for the Original Bananamilk which is great for allergy-conscious families, since it’s nut-free and dairy-free made with bananas and sunflower seeds, with no added sugar. Besides drinking by the glass, I love using it in my 5 ingredient banana oat bread recipe. Simply blend together 2 bananas, 2 eggs, 1 tsp of baking soda, 2 cups of oats and ¼ cup of Mooala original banana milk. Transfer to a bread pan and bake for 30 minutes at 350 F. You can now find Mooala at Publix or on Mooala.com.
Tip 2: Spring clean your snacks by building them around protein, produce and healthy dips.
Salsa is low in calories and classified as a veggie by the USDA – plus, it’s great paired with veggies. The Fresh Cravings Certified Organic salsas are made with a short list of clean, organic ingredients like vine-ripened tomatoes, crisp vegetables, zesty peppers and spices packing both flavor and nutrition. It’s available in Chunky Medium Spice or Restaurant Style in Mild, Medium and Hot. And the best part is, Fresh cravings salsa is refrigerated instead of jarred. You can find Fresh Cravings organic salsa and plant-based dips chilled in the produce section at Publix.
Tip 3: Spring clean your breakfast by focusing on whole sprouted grains.
Sprouting helps make nutrients more bioavailable and easier to digest for many people. All of the One Degree Organic products are made using clean, organic, non-GMO and glyphosate-free ingredients that are sourced from farmers who use only plant-based farming methods so you get the taste of nature’s most nutrient-rich ingredients. One Degree’s Sprouted Brown Rice Cacao Crisps and Sprouted Oat Quinoa Cacao Granola are made with a clean ingredient list, including sprouted whole grains to provide an abundance of protein and other key nutrients, while keeping sugar to a minimum. Enjoy both on their own or as a topper for a delicious nutritious breakfast, like this plant-powered tropical smoothie bowl. To a high speed blender, add 1 frozen banana, ½ an orange, 1 cup of sstrawerries, 1 cup of plant-based mi.k. Pour into a bowl and top with banana, orange, coconut and the One Degree’s Sprouted Oat Quinoa Cacao Granola You can find One Degree’s Sprouted Brown Rice Cacao Crisps and Sprouted Oat Quinoa Cacao Granola at your local Publix!
Tip 4: Spring clean your lunches and dinners by balancing them around a nutritious carbohydrate, lean or plant-based protein, veggie and good fat.
This combination will keep you energized and satisfied while giving your body the nutrition it needs. My vegetarian burrito plate is a great example where black beans are the protein source, brown rice is the carbohydrate and bell peppers sautéed in Cocavo is the veggie and good fat. I like sauteeing veggies with Cocavo which is a coconut and avocado oil blend with a high smoke-point that you can find at Walmart. When I am looking to add more coconut flavor and aroma, then the Cocavo Natural is a good option since it’s made with extra virgin coconut oil. On the other hand when I am looking to add more buttery flavor, I use Cocoavo pure since it’s made with pure deodorized coconut oil and allows the avocado oil to shine though. You can find Cocavo at your local Walmart.
