Healthy Springtime Meals Celebration
March brings several reasons to celebrate health and to enjoy healthy meals. As the snow melts and the heavy rains subside, spring flowers and vegetables start to grow. With the milder weather, we’re typically more motivated to get outside. Fortunately, this means more fresh air and opportunities for exercise. This is a great time for a healthy springtime meals celebration. In addition, we celebrate these special events this month:
- Beginning of Spring
- Daylight Saving Time (more time to prepare meals before dark)
- National Nutrition Month
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day on March 13th
- National Kidney Month
National Kidney Month is a good time for everyone to learn more about kidney disease. Checkout this video on the what causes kidney disease.
Spring Menu 
It’s a great time to switch over from a winter meal plan to one that includes new spring recipes. To get started check out “ Three Day Menu for a Spring Diet ” created by the DaVita Dietitian team. In addition to the ideas for springtime meals there are daily diet tips to help you organize your meal planning. Plus the menu includes meals that are kidney-friendly. They are easy to adjust to different levels of protein and potassium depending on your specific diet needs.
Potassium Refresh
If you are on a low potassium diet, take time to refresh your memory about produce options that are low in potassium by reading “ Low Potassium Early Spring Vegetables”. Check with your dietitian to know how many servings of fresh fruits and vegetables to aim for each day. Don’t cut yourself short and miss the health benefits from the fiber, antioxidants and nutrients that produce adds to your diet.
For individuals not on a potassium restricted diet, it is recommended they aim for 4,700 mg potassium each day. This level can be easier to reach with a DASH diet (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) or a Mediterranean way of eating. If you are unsure about the appropriate levels of potassium you should consume, ask your health care team. It is important not to restrict potassium if you do not need to limit it.
Recipes and Cookbooks 
Looking for recipe ideas for healthy springtime meals? My favorite kidney-friendly spring salad is Strawberry and Goat Cheese Spring Salad from the DaVita.com recipes. For more meal ideas download one of the Today’s Kidney Diet Spring cookbooks: Simply Spring, Fresh Spring Recipes and Springtime Favorites.
What are your favorite healthy spring foods and meals?
Visit DaVita.com and explore these diet and nutrition resources:
DaVita Kidney-Friendly Recipes
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Consult your physician and dietitian regarding your specific diagnosis, treatment, diet and health questions.
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