FOODIE'S CORNER – Spring clean your diet

FOODIE'S CORNER – Spring clean your diet   Make the best of the seasonal goodies, that grow right in your backyard Relish the seasonal goodies of the Harvest season now. Spring has many nutritious surprises in store for you. COOKING LIGHT The commencement of Spring translates into dusting away all those winter torpors and getting things back on track. stress-free way to buzz start Spring is with an `in the pink food detox' and getting into a warm weather mode. Gradually change-over from winter's heavier and greasier foods to lighter dishes. Remember, it is not a good idea to eat your greens raw in the Spring as it may hamper digestion. As an alternative, frivolously cook your vegetables, using unpretentious food combinations. Add a dash of lemon juice to your drinking water and stir fried vegetables, this can aid detoxification. Get creative -let the natural backdrop of Spring produce inspire you. Around the world, trending spring foods include sprouts with a lot of vegetables, pickled vegetables and fruits like beet and okra to accompany spring barbecues,  non-wheat pastas, strawberry desserts and lots more. THE PALEO DIET Vegetables are about ready to burst with bounty, and a good idea is to go for the Paleo diet, which is basically eating how our descendants ate.That is by cutting out processed foods and filling up on seasonal fruits and vegetables and white meat. This is followed globally .`Torvehallerne' in Copenhagen has a special `Palaeo' restaurant where you can even have a `Palaeobread' made of mix nuts and seeds and even the freshly squeezed juices are organic with interesting blends. New Zealand is another country, which is brimming with farmers who extend their local fresh produce directly to the consumer. Italy has raw milk vending machines in quite a few parts of the country. Sweden does a fantastic job of marking its position in the paleo sphere with an extensive diversity of food concepts. SPRING FOOD CELEBRATIONS There are numerous festivals and merriment that take place alfresco and include Spring food on a platter. In India, of course, it begins with Holi when mustard fields are in full bloom. Overseas, at the London Derry Food Festival, one can sample some of the finest seasonal produce. You can interact with the regional artisans about food derivation and the significance of home-grown seasonal produce. To name a few -Pak choi and salad leaves from Ballymena, root vegetables from Comber, etc. The Russians rejoice over a `Pancake Week', which marks the end of winter. Locals prepare pancake crepes that are made to look like the sun. The famous Cherry Blossom Festival called Sakura in Japan is a Spring delight. Singapore hosts a huge World Gourmet Summit where chefs congregate and celebrate food in unique ways. Memphis also known as the Barbecue capital of the world hosts barbecue competitions rejoicing the end of winter. From the prehistoric to the modern, these Spring customs and festivals enthuse something fresh that you would truly want to try with your loved ones. Rupali Dean is a Delhi-based food writer

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