Starting Spring With Healthy Habits
April is a time to strengthen our connection with Mother Nature. The days grow a little longer, the air a little warmer, flowers bloom, and the fruit becomes bountiful.
This beautiful Earth offers nourishment in every season, yet our modern lifestyles have made it harder to tread lightly and live in an environmentally friendly way. In honor of Earth Day, we’re sharing some of our top spring tips to help you forge a more conscious way of living.
Tip #1 - Get Your Berries From The Berry Patch
Who doesn’t love the sweet taste of fresh strawberries in spring? Instead of buying strawberries from the store, try sourcing them from local farms or berry patches. By doing so, you’ll help support small community farmers and reduce plastic waste, since store-bought berries are often packaged in single-use plastic containers.
Bonus tip: Bring your own reusable bag to carry your berries home. You’ll enjoy the added benefit of higher-nutrient strawberries, freshly picked off the vine.
Tip #2 - Bring Your Own Reusable Cup
Many businesses these days support the BYO (Bring Your Own) movement, and for good reason! This movement benefits both businesses—by helping to lower costs—and the planet, by reducing waste.
The total U.S. landfill capacity is projected to decrease by 15% in the next five years if we don’t take steps to change our habits. Bringing your own cup for coffee, juice, or smoothies is a simple yet powerful way to reduce your environmental footprint.
Tip #3 - Incorporate A Shopping Detox Into Your Health Journey
These days, it’s far too easy to give in to shopping impulses when stores are literally at your fingertips. This spring, try committing to a one-week shopping detox. Only buy necessities like food, gas, and essentials.
Not only will this benefit your financial health, but it may also improve your mental health. We’re becoming a society of consumption and waste, which can have disastrous impacts on the planet.
Want to learn more? Check out the documentary Buy Now on Netflix to better understand the impact of consumer culture.
Respecting Nature
Creating a healthy lifestyle is about more than just good nutrition and regular exercise. It’s also about how we live, the everyday choices we make, and the habits we build. Little by little, choice by choice, we can evolve into the healthiest versions of ourselves while living in harmony with the natural world.
This Month's Recipe Feature: Strawberry Jam
Ingredients:
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1 lb of fresh strawberries, washed and sliced (fresh or frozen)
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½ lemon, juiced
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2-3 tbsp maple syrup (depending on how sweet you like it)
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2 tbsp chia seeds
Preparation:
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Place the strawberries, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a pot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer.
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Once the strawberries begin to break apart, mash them with a potato masher.
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Bring the mixture back to a boil, then add the chia seeds.
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Continue to simmer for 15 minutes, or until you can see a clean streak on the bottom of the pan by running your spatula through it.
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Remove from heat and let the jam cool to room temperature. Store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
This spring, let’s lean into the season’s natural abundance by making small, mindful changes that honor our planet and nourish our bodies.
