Spring clean your cupboards, fridge and freezer

Ahh spring! The birds wake us up singing. The sun shines brightly. And we take a look at ourselves after hibernating away this long winter.

With the warmer weather it’s time to start thinking about refreshing our lives from turning over our seasonal wardrobes to mixing up our workout routines and eating plans. Here are some tips for springing into a more refreshed you!

Remember it is 2015

Put on some music you really like, dig in and get the trashcan out. If you can’t remember buying it- toss it: that bag of whatever you saw on a cooking show but never figured out how to use, the bottles of mystery condiments in the fridge, the frozen chunks of something … they can all go. Dare I suggest you look at the expiration dates on what is left before putting them back on the shelf?

Go Shopping Online

I often get harder to find items online. Some favorites that are cheaper by the case include: dried Michigan cherries, specialty oils, and snack bars.

Plan Your Snacks Ahead of Time

For the brick-and-mortar folks, make a shopping list and then head to the store. Stock up on fresh produce. Think small and easy: apple slices, grape tomatoes, and baby carrots offer the vitamins you need in an easy to eat form. Tiny containers of hummus or peanut butter make a great nutrient-rich, high-protein dip for these fruits and veggies. One ounce of nuts such as almonds or cashews is another high-protein snack. Whole-wheat crackers can round out these “heading out the door” snacks.

Make Time for a Prep Hour

Also buy some items in the usual size and take a prep hour to repackage into lunch or snack size containers. I repackage bags of grapes into smaller cup size containers. Take a box of crackers and portion out single servings to stop the “empty the box” size servings. Make soup and freeze in one-cup size servings. I often take out one portion of whatever I’m making for dinner and pop it in the freezer for use on my most time stressed days.

Get moving!

The Chester Valley trail is now open. Use it for a walk or bike ride and take some friend or family members with you. Another great place for a walk, hike or bike ride is Valley Forge National Park. The Plumb trail is a gentle, paved path while Mounts Joy and Misery offer some elevation for a very nice work out. Longs walks are great but even 10 or 15 minutes can clear your mind, lower your stress and add up to fitness.

Think Portable

Look for portion-controlled options. I shoot for packaged options less than 100 calories; such as a mini can of Coke, which is only 90 calories, and is travel friendly.

Celebrate spring. Refresh your lifestyle. You’ll love it. I promise.

BIO: Carol Meerschaert is a registered dietitian in Paoli, PA with over 25 years of nutrition counseling experience. Carol is a consultant for food and beverage companies including The Coca-Cola Company. Carol has written over 100 magazine articles on nutrition topics and has trained health professionals in 22 states. Carol has appeared in numerous TV appearances including on CNN and Ivanhoe Broadcast News.