April is a fantastic month for eating (although let’s be honest, every month is…). Did you know that April 2 is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day and that April 4 is National Burrito Day? Apparently they have a day for everything! While many people will be chowing down on Easter chocolate eggs this month, there are a quite a few seasonal healthy options that you can eat instead.

Buying local produce is always our first choice, as it helps local farmers and the fruit/vegetables are the freshest they can be; however, with the advent of genetically modified organisms and a global market, many vegetables/fruits are available year round. Spring is a great time for many seasonal fruits and vegetables, so we’ve curated an April produce guide to help inspire you to create some healthy dishes this April.

Seasonal April Fruits

Fruits are naturally low in calories, sodium, and fat, and are rich in folic acid, vitamin c, dietary fiber, potassium, and many other minerals and phytonutrients. Fruits are a natural thirst-quencher and no one can deny that they are a refreshing choice on a warm Spring day. Here are just a few fruits that are well within season during April:

• Oranges
• Strawberries
• Papayas
• Limes

Strawberries, papayas, and oranges can be chopped together with some grapes and apples to make a fantastic fruit salad! You can even squeeze some lime juice over the plate to give the fruit a little extra taste and ‘bite’. You can also squeeze some lime juice into some seltzer water and cut a few strawberries; throw the strawberries into the seltzer and you have yourself a refreshing Spring beverage.

Seasonal April Leafy Greens

April is a great month for salads and fruit salads; there are many leafy greens that you can add to a salad to create a healthy, delicious, and nutrient-dense meal:

• Arugula
• Chicory
• Fiddlehead Fern
• Lettuce
• Rhubarb
• Watercress

A mixed-greens salad consisting of chicory, lettuce, and rhubarb can be sweetened up with some citrus fruits, raspberry vinaigrette, and radishes.

Seasonal April Flowering Vegetables

If you didn’t know: asparagus and artichokes are actually flowers and are in season for Spring! Much like cauliflower, these flowering vegetables are incredibly healthy and are quite versatile in seasonal dishes.

Seasonal April Root and Bulb Vegetables

When people think about root and bulb vegetables, people generally think of taproot and tubers like potatoes and beets; bulb vegetables are aptly named, as onions and shallots look like lightbulbs. Here are just a few of the classic root and bulb vegetables that will be in season for April:

• Beets
• Horseradish
• Turnips
• Shallots
• Sweet Onions

Onions and mushrooms are always a great choice when you are looking to make a mean stir-fry; beets are also a fantastic choice for those salads we keep talking about… try chopping a few beets, avocados, oranges, apples, red peppers, and chicken over a bed of spinach and arugula! That’ll make a tasty Spring salad that everyone will enjoy.

South Florida Party Catering

If you are looking to feed your next office function, party or event, choose Catering CC! We offer numerous healthy, seasonal options to help make your next event even more memorable. Check out some of our menus! We have drop-off catering, healthy platters, breakfast, themed buffes, and everything in-between… Happy Easter from everyone at Catering CC!