The end-of-semester slump and Spring Sing stress has set in, and students everywhere may be feeling weary. Luckily, Spring brings fresh new produce that can brighten up your plate but your mood.<\/p>\n
Sarah Oropeza, registered dietician at Harding, said students do not have to make huge diet transitions to eat seasonally. According to Oropeza, even small changes will lead to healthy habits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you go to the cafeteria, look at your plate and make sure it\u2019s not all the same color,\u201d Oropeza said. \u201cMake it colorful with fruits and vegetables.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nutrition and dietetics major Toni Sharp said the cafeteria has increased the number of spring fruits and vegetables they offer. At the salad bar they have beets, radishes, chickpeas, romaine lettuce, red lettuce, and occasionally strawberries. At the main line, there are usually peas and carrots available.<\/p>\n
\u201cEating seasonally is beneficial because these foods are at their peak nutritional value,\u201d Sharp said. \u201cLeafy greens provide hydration, fibrous vegetables aid digestion, and berries contain antioxidants which is great for energy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophomore Kaitlyn Francois said she notices when she is not eating seasonally because she experiences lethargy and brain fog.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you supply your body with the right nutrients, you\u2019re going to feel way more energetic, you\u2019ll be able to last longer throughout the day, and you\u2019ll be able to think more clearly,\u201d Francois said.<\/p>\n
Oropeza said a fruit or vegetable begins to decline in nutritional value once it is harvested, so when the travel time from farm to table is much shorter, the health benefits you receive from that produce are much higher. If you are not able to eat fresh seasonal produce, Oropeza said produce that is frozen or canned at peak ripeness would hold the same nutritional value.<\/p>\n
When buying canned fruits or vegetables, Sharp advices students to check the labels on the cans to make sure the fruits are in juice, not syrup and that the vegetables are low in sodium.<\/p>\n
It can be easy to incorporate seasonal produce into a busy lifestyle. Oropeza encourages students to drink smoothies because they are an easy way to combine fruits and vegetables into one meal. For picky eaters, Oropeza said smoothies are the way to go because you will be able to mask the taste of produce that you don\u2019t like.<\/p>\n
Francois\u2019s favorite way to include vegetables into her day are with salads or pizza because she does not prefer eating vegetables by themselves. She said it\u2019s easy to add savory produce to her favorite meals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt always helps to spice [vegetables] up to fit your liking,\u201d Francois said. \u201cWhat\u2019s important is that you are getting the underlying nutrition that\u2019s in them.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are many ways to obtain seasonal produce in Searcy. Later this month, the Searcy Farmer\u2019s Market will open every Saturday and Tuesday. Walmart, the Natural Food Store and Good Measure Market offer a wide variety of seasonal produce as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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