Pungent & Bitter Recipes: Transition to Spring #Healthy Eating #Weekly Menu Plan

Here in the Northeast of the United States we are starting to get some day time temperatures above freezing which is a sign that Spring is on the way. I sometimes feel that the transition from Winter to Spring is a hard one to make. If I don't lighten up my eating, I feel heavy and sluggish come Springtime instead of light and energetic. 

I have found that at this time of year it is best to start reducing the amount of dairy, especially cheese that you eat and to lower your intake of red meat. I also find it helpful to start adding pungent and bitter tastes into your diet.

Pungent foods are the kind that can seem almost hot but it's more of a peppery, nose clearing kinda of taste, like you find when you eat: radishes, mustard, wasabi, horseradish and diakon root. These foods are rich in vitamin C and potassium. They are great for getting rid of mucus in your system caused from allergies or a cold. They also aid in digestion and help clear and lighten your body, which is what you want to start doing in preparation for Spring.*

Adding more dark green vegetables like swiss chard, spinach, collard greens, and mustard greens are a great way to introduce bitters into your diet. Bitter tasting foods help to cleanse your system too by reducing water retention and helping to clean your liver. They also tend to be very high in vitamin K which reduces inflammation and possibly helps prevent heart disease and diabetes.* 

Here are some recipes to get you started… 

Grilled Raclette tartines with black radish, walnuts and chives

Lentil Stew with Winter Vegetables & Mustard Greens

Spicy Skillet Turnip Greens 

Diakon Salad

Man Pleasing Chicken (Mustard Sauce) 

Wasabi Shrimp 

Weekly Menu Plan:

Sunday: Garbure (Duck & Pork Stew)

Meatless Monday: Spinach, Canneloni Beans & Garlic over Pasta 

Tuesday: Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons

Wednesday: Chickpea Patties, Tahini/Yogurt Sauce and Tomato/Red Onion Salad

Thursday: Irish Whisky Steak and Boxy

Friday: Crab Quiche with Potato Crust

Saturday: Leftovers

* source: 

http://www.mapi.com/ayurveda_health_care/newsletters/newsfood-bitter.html

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbsuperfoods/a/greensnutrition.htm

http://www.joyfulbelly.com/Ayurveda/ingredient/Radish-raw-/243

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