Spring Forward | 3 Nutrition Tips from Katie Diehl, MSACN

I. Love. Spring. It’s the season of new beginnings and after months of drab weather, darkness and albeit all of the red wine/carb-loading, I can’t help but be stoked to shed the blahs for the lightness and brightness March 19th welcomes. That’s why I tapped into clinical nutritionist (and gal pal) Katie Diehl to deliver 3 nutrition do’s this month to put a pep in your step.

1. Nutrition: Power Up Your Diet

Fresh produce is so close we can finally taste it! Say goodbye to chunky sweaters and winter eating habits! Eating nutritious food is not only good for your overall health but it also improves mood, focus, energy, skin and metabolism. Where are you with your diet currently? Do you feel great, energized and focused or do you feel tired, sluggish, unmotivated and stuck in your diet? Where are areas in your diet that need to be improved? Remember, you are what you eat. So, be sure to fill your plate with in season superfoods like avocado, asparagus, basil, beets, bok chow, blueberries, cabbage, cucumbers, naval oranges, kale, mushrooms, strawberries and spinach.

2. Minimize Alcohol: Create a New Happy Hour Tradition 

With spring in the air, people seem to come out of hibernation ready to hit the rooftop bar. Don’t kill the messenger but alcohol is not an essential nutrient in your diet. (Therefore, it serves you 0 nutritional value. ) This Spring, dial in to your health. Instead of participating in an alcohol-filled happy hour, stop by a local market, fill your cart with healthy eats and try a new recipe. Trust me, you’ll be so happy you did the next morning! To learn more about what happens when you consume alcohol, click here. 

3. Just Say No to Added Sugars

Glucose is our bodies primary source of energy, which makes sugar an essential nutrient. However, the type and quantity of what you’re consuming matters. As we head into spring and get ready for beach wear, find ways to dial back your sugar intake. Pro tip: Try removing it from tea/coffee, choose plain yogurt with 0 added ingredients/sugars — adding fresh fruit instead — swap out the 3:00 p.m. milk chocolate for a handful of trail mix, etc. Your daily allowance for added sugars is no more than 25g a day. So next time you’re picking up your favorite products, be sure to monitor how much added sugar is in each product.