Spring Clean Up: Week 2

I don't know about you, but week 1 of the spring clean up went great for me. The day after posting the first weeks article my girlfriend and I went out and purchased a water cooler. You see, we have water issues around our house. Namely, I like my water at room temperature (I know, I'm strange) and she likes hers ice cold. Since we live outside of the cities water grid, we rely on well water which isn't so hot around our place. The problems is, I tend to leave the water on the counter, which in turns goes warm. Great for me, bad for her. So, a water cooler with room temperature and cold taps fixed our dilemma. I'm happy to report that after purchasing said water cooler, we have already downed gallons upon gallons of refreshing water and virtually no sugary drinks.

So now its time to tackle week 2. Since week 1 may have been a challenge for some, I opted to make week 2 a bit easier. The goal this time around is simply to ensure that we are getting a full 5 servings of fruits and or vegetables each and every day. For some, this may be a daunting task, but I assure you, its simple. 

The objective here is to replace some of the processed foods and sugary snacks we would typically eat with fresh nutrient rich produce. If you usually find yourself reaching for a bag of chips, a chocolate bar or a handful of candy, try instead reaching for a fresh crispy apple, a sweet ripe banana or a handful of grapes. Not only will you feel better, both physically and mentally for making the better choice, but you will also likely feel fuller throughout the day as you'll likely be consuming more fibre than you would if you opt to eat the junk.

Also, if your side dishes usually consist of packaged noodles, instant potatoes, or any of the numerous overly processed frozen foods that are available, try to replace them a fresh crisp salad or simple steamed and dressed vegetables. Get creative and make good use of that delicious produce. If you lack creativity, browse through our recipes! I'm sure you'll find something that tickles your fancy.

I will however say this now. 5 servings of fruits and vegetables should be considered a minimum goal for the day. In the upcoming weeks we will be reworking this goal and shooting for closer to 10 servings per day.

So, with that being said, good luck to everyone! If you find a great side dish or snack that incorporates plenty of fresh produce, feel free to post it in the comments section!