The official start of spring is just a few days away!  And even though it may not feel like spring in every location, seasonal fruits and vegetables will be popping up in markets and menus shortly.  Eating seasonally is a great way to taste foods at their peak freshness and flavor.  So whether you decide to order in or make something at home, don’t pass up the chance to taste these spring flavors soon.

Strawberries can be found throughout the year, but their peak season is April-June.  They are high in omega-3’s, are thought to help prevent high blood pressure and are a good source of folate.  You can enjoy them on their own or in one of these delicious dishes:

• Strawberry & Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing – If you’re LA bound, stop by Bru’s Counter 
• Strawberry Balsamic Chicken – Don’t miss the sandwich boat at Cafe Prague in New York City 
• Pancakes or Waffles topped with sliced Strawberries – Stacks Pancake House in New Jersey has the recipe

Whether it’s garden, snap or snow, peas are their best in the springtime.  Fresh peas put their canned brothers to shame in both texture and taste.  I think the cause for most people thinking they dislike a certain vegetable has a lot to do with the fact that they haven’t had it in its best form.  So even if you’ve grown up thinking you hate peas, do yourself a favor and indulge in a fresh variety this season in one of the following way:

• Samosa Potatoes and Peas – If it’s raining in Philadelphia, order in at San Samosa
• Spring Pea Risotto – Fig & Olive has the order in NYC

Asparagus is thought to help detoxify the body when eaten, which sounds like the perfect thing to do this time of year.  Think of it as a sort of inner-“Spring Cleaning”.  But honestly, even if asparagus had no health benefits whatsoever, it’d still be eaten by the truckload because it’s incredibly tasty.  These are great ways to indulge in them:

• Parmesan Roasted Asparagus – Get it on a slice at Asparagus Pizza in NYC
• Spicy Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus – Fellow Virginian? Flying Fish has you covered.

Although they may look daunting, and even intimidating to eat, artichokes offer a lot.  They are thought to contribute to bone health, aid with inflammation and help in liver health.  The hearts are used in many dishes, but you can get the most out of your artichoke by simply steaming it and eating it leaf by leaf.  Or try them in one of these:

• Artichoke and Feta Cheese Pizza – Don’t miss out at Artichoke Basille’s Pizza on West 17th in NYC
• Bacon-wrapped Artichoke Hearts – Toast it on a baguette while you’re at Bistro Petit in Brooklyn
• Baked Lemon Chicken with Artichokes – Sammich it up at Cafe Trend in NYC

So savor all the tastes of spring this season and enjoy all it has to offer.

Ashley Howe is a food enthusiast, a clean-eating blogger and a full-time chef to two little ones. When not experimenting in the kitchen, Ashley likes to seek out new foods and ways to make eating deliciously fun and accessible to everyone. You can find her recipes and tips at AshleyRightNow.wordpress.com and follow her on Twitter,  Instagram, and Facebook.

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