3 Tips To Spring Clean Your Food Habits

Spring is in the air! Trees are in blossom, the sun’s warmth is shining through and we’ve had some new arrivals on the farm in the form of lambs! For many, Spring is a time of change and feeling new, so what better time to visit your home, garden and lifestyle and see where you could ‘spring clean’ your habits to make way for this bright, new season?

If you’re wondering why Spring brings on these feelings of renewed energy and life, it’s because we’re following the spring equinox when the Earth's horizon is perfectly aligned with the Sun. The days begin lasting longer, the nights get shorter and you have more time in the day to enjoy!

We’ll show you how to shop seasonally, what seeds are best sown now and how small changes to your lifestyle could see you with a new-found spring in your step.

Embrace the seasons

When you visit a supermarket, you might be fooled into thinking that fruit and veggies are made for year-round eating, when in reality, each vegetable has a season when it’s at prime ripeness and taste. Take a look at the packaging next time you’re shopping and see how far your groceries have travelled to make it to your plate.

The first benefit of eating seasonally is to reduce food miles. We’re big on sustainability here at Farm Door and source most of our ingredients from within a 1hr radius of the farm. If it’s not in season, it’s not going in our meals! It adds an extra step in the recipe planning stage but means we get to use some of the best produce each season has to offer.

Eating by the season also means you’ll get the most nutrient-dense produce. Food has the greatest nutritional content and flavour at its peak ripeness and when in season. If you’re a school or part of a family, why not try out a recipe using some of these in-season ingredients and educate the little ones on the importance of shopping and eating seasonally:

Fruit:

• Apples: Lady Williams
• Berries: Strawberries
• Grapefruit
• Lemons
• Mandarins: Honey Murcot
• Mangoes
• Oranges: Blood
• Papaya
• Papaw
• Pineapples

Vegetables:

• Asian greens
• Asparagus
• Beans: Broad, Green
• Beetroot
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Chillies
• Fennel
• Garlic, fresh
• Globe Artichokes
• Lettuce, Spinach, Kale and other leafy greens
• Mushrooms
• Onions: Spring, Green (Shallots)
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Silverbeet

Shopping by the season means your diet is always going to include variety – you might even discover a new family favourite!

Seed sowing success

The Australian climate is hugely diverse, which means depending on where you live, sowing times and success will vary depending on what you choose to plant. Whether you have a huge backyard, or a sunny windowsill, there’s always something you can grow! Curious? Check out these useful sections on The Digger’s Club site which lets you find the best seeds to sow for your climate region.

Or here’s a cool chart by About The Garden.

In the Farm Door garden, we’re continuing to focus on herbs and leafy greens for the fresh meal range. Herbs… they really bring flavour to every meal. Who doesn’t love a mixed green and herb salad; finely chopped chard, beetroot leaf, parsley, mint, shallots. Maybe an edible flower to make everyone smile! Health! A herb salad can be thrown in a smoothie, cooked with an egg for breakfast, or enjoyed with a BBQ or your favourite pasta.

Microgreens on a window sill can be ready to harvest in just two weeks!

Healthy habits

There are lots of ways to mix up habits and make fresh changes to your routine this Spring. Here are some of our favourites:

• Spring clean your pantry: It’s time to say goodbye to that tin of baked beans that’s been with you since your uni days. First check whether tins, rice, and pasta are in date and if so, see if you can use your seasonal fruit and veggies to create a meal with them – the more creative the better! Then say goodbye to anything that can’t be used.
• Get active: A healthy lifestyle balances healthy eating and exercise. Now, we’re not pretending to be qualified sports coaches, but exercise is one of those things you never regret. Who doesn’t feel better after getting out for a walk or spending an hour in a veggie patch. As winter turns to spring, try switching your car for your bike on your morning commute.
• Meal prep: We feel you – the evening rolls in and you have zero motivation to think of a meal to satisfy your hunger quickly, whilst providing all the nutrition you need. Try planning out meals ahead of your food shop. Buy groceries in one go, rather than day by day (trust us, it saves a lot of money) and make meals you can pop in the fridge and freezer to reheat later. Find out if there’s a local veggie box available in your area and make sure to pick up a few of your favourite Farm Door meals at your nearest grocer!

With a freshly cleaned pantry, and a fridge packed with seasonal produce and Farm Door meals, you’ll be ready to start the season.

Do you have a spring recipe you’d like featured on our socials? Send us a pic at @mychefhealthymeals for your chance to be featured. And remember to send us your seedling updates from the veggie patch!