10 Healthy Spring Recipes

Spring is finally here, and with it comes the opportunity to enjoy warm weather, flowers blooming, and fresh vegetables from your local farmer's market. With that said, it's time to start incorporating some new recipes into your diet.

Beauty Avocado Toast

Avocados contain more than 20 vitamins and minerals, including fiber and potassium. They also have high-quality monounsaturated fats that can help lower cholesterol. You can also sprinkle some flaxseeds over the top for an added health boost. When it comes to toast, make sure you choose 100% whole wheat bread since it contains more fiber than white bread. Mix up the avocado with some fresh greens like spinach, arugula, or dandelion greens for an even more nutritious start to your day.

Berry Smoothie Bowl

Smoothies are a go-to when you don't feel like cooking. This berry smoothie bowl is packed with protein, fiber, and antioxidants and is great for a snack or meal replacement. If desired, you can use whatever berries or fruit you prefer and add any of your favorite ingredients like nonfat yogurt and chia seeds. The great thing about smoothies is that you can drink them hot and cold, depending on the weather. You can also add protein powder for added calories and taste.

Homemade Salsa

You can turn those fresh vegetables you bought at the farmer's market into delicious salsa. It's easy to make and will only take a few minutes in the blender or food processor. You'll need a few tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, garlic, and lime juice. Once you have all of your ingredients chopped up and mixed in a bowl, it's time to add the avocado. Avocados not only add a layer of flavor but also transform this salsa into a creamy delight.

Chia Seed Jam

Chia seeds pack a serious health punch. They contain antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. The coconut oil is the key to this recipe since it helps turn the chia seeds into a gel that can be stirred into yogurt or on top of cereal. The coconut oil also helps keep the jam shelf-stable without being overly greasy, and you won't even taste it if you're using unsweetened almond milk. When spreading the jam on toast or crackers, make sure you're using 100% whole wheat bread, so it doesn't become too soggy.

Spring Chili Soup With Zucchini & Carrot Noodles

This is a delicious, healthy soup that contains protein, fiber, and antioxidants which are the perfect way to rev up your immune system during the spring and summer months. The key to this recipe is carrot noodles made by spiraling your zucchini or summer squash into thin noodles. Carrot noodles make a perfect substitute for pasta while adding more beta carotene to your day. Adding lemon and apple cider vinegar to the soup will help improve your digestive health.

Simple Celery Soup

Celery is a great way to get your daily dosage of Vitamin K, which helps build strong and healthy bones. Celery soup is straightforward to make, and you can use fresh or frozen celery for an added boost of vitamin C. You'll also want to add some lemon juice since it promotes digestive health and garlic since it's anti-inflammatory and helps boost your immune system. Celery also contains a lot of sodium, so you can rinse the salt off after cooking if you want to limit your sodium intake.

Spring Tabouli Salad

This is a fun and easy-to-make soup that will take less than 30 minutes. It's perfect for lunch or dinner and can be enjoyed as a starter or side dish. The vinaigrette used in this recipe contains various ingredients known to keep the digestive system healthy and balanced, including almonds, olive oil, fresh parsley, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice. You'll want to add some flax seeds to the salad since they contain fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

French Potato Salad

Potatoes are a great way to add fiber to your diet. They also contain minerals like selenium and potassium, which are essential in keeping the immune system strong. The key to this recipe is to make sure the potatoes have a crispy exterior while the inside remains soft and fluffy. You can achieve this by cooking the potatoes in butter first and then boiling them until soft. While you're boiling them, you can start making your vinaigrette. Once everything is ready, mix everything and serve warm or cold.

North African Carrot Soup

Carrot soup contains a lot of fiber and beta carotene. Additionally, carrots have been known to help prevent cancer, improve digestion and boost the immune system. Make sure you cook the carrots at low heat so they can absorb all of the flavors from the spices you're adding to them. You'll want to add some garlic and ginger since they have anti-inflammatory properties.

Roasted Asparagus

This recipe is great because it works well as a starter. Asparagus contains a lot of vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system and improve digestion. You'll also want to add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice since they're rich in antioxidants. It's best to buy the asparagus spears that are pre-trimmed.