Spring Into Healthy Eating: Fresh, Seasonal and Budget-Friendly Tips

Apr 9, 2025

April is the perfect time to refresh your meals with seasonal, nutritious foods as we begin to experience a rise in temperatures. Eating fresh food isn’t always expensive and our Nutrition Education team is here to help you make the most of spring produce while staying on budget!

Fresh is Best

Eating seasonal produce provides a variety of benefits, from spending less money at the store to enjoying a fresher taste. What many don’t always realize is fresh produce contains a higher nutritional value because fresh fruits and vegetables keep more of their natural nutrients than frozen produce. Also, here in southeastern Wisconsin, you can support local farmers and communities when you purchase fresh seasonal produce.

Eat the Rainbow

Spring is the perfect time to enjoy several colorful and nutrient-packed fruits and vegetables. Spinach and leafy greens are great for salads and smoothies, while strawberries are a sweet treat full of vitamins. Carrots make for a great crunchy snack and broccoli is easy to steam, roast or add to pasta dishes.

Shop Smart

When shopping for fresh produce, it’s recommended to check for sales and compare prices at local stores with those at farmers’ markets. SNAP benefits can be used at both a local grocery store and farmers’ market to purchase seasonal recipe ingredients. If fresh isn’t available, buy frozen produce, canned, low-sodium vegetables or fruits in their own juices to get the most nutritional benefits. When you plan meals around what’s in season, you can stretch your dollar farther than you would otherwise.

Eating well this season is all about making small, healthy choices. Recipes for more delicious meals can be found in the nutrition education section of the Hunger Task Force website.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Made with just a handful of fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients, this Simple Strawberry Spinach Salad is a quick and healthy option for any meal. Sweet strawberries and crisp spinach combine for a naturally delicious dish that’s packed with vitamins, fiber, and flavor.

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Course Salad, Side Dish

Ingredients

2 cups fresh spinahc
1/2 cup strawberries sliced
2 tbsp nuts walnuts or almonds, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice

Instructions

Wash and slice the strawberries.
Toss all ingredients together
Enjoy a healthy meal

Notes

For more protein, toss in grilled chicken, shrimp or plant-based options (garbanzo beans, white beans or more nuts).

Keyword salad, spinach, strawberry

Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee’s Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader. The organization’s core values are Dignity, Justice, Equity, Compassion and Stewardship. Hunger Task Force feeds people today by providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force also works to end future hunger by advocating for strong public policies and nutrition programs at the local, state and federal level.