One of the great things about spring is that produce is fresher. The fresher the produce, the better the flavor! Spring is a great time to experiment with new flavors and surprise your tastebuds. The best news is that the majority of produce freshest in spring is in the “usually bladder friendly” or “foods worth trying” category of the IC Food List.

If you are trying a new food, proceed with caution. Go for a smaller amount at first and consider taking a couple of Prelief tablets before eating to help counter the acid.

Hit up a local farmers market this spring and look for fruit at its’ ripest. The riper the fruit, the lower the acid levels. Enjoy!

Apricots (foods worth trying)

Coming in season in May, apricots stay in season through the summer. The sweet and sticky fruit can be good eaten raw as a snack or has lots of yummy options for cooking with it.

Artichokes (usually bladder friendly)

Artichokes are often used in dips, but the veggie can stand on its own and can be found in season in March through May.

  • Fried artichokes (The dip with this recipe calls for aioli or mayonnaise; both would be in the “foods worth trying list.” If you aren’t comfortable with it, consider trying a pureed cottage cheese instead.[1])
  • Roasted asparagus, artichoke and fontina pizza (If you aren’t sure about fontina cheese or don’t have it, you can substitute mozzarella cheese for a similar flavor.)
  • Steamed artichokes

Asparagus (usually bladder friendly)

Asparagus is one of the first vegetables of spring and offers a variety of options from grilling it to putting it in all sorts of yummy dishes.

Carrots (usually bladder friendly)

Even though they are around in summer and fall, carrots are still a great spring vegetable option and are fresh this time of year. While raw carrots can be great for snacking on with an IC friendly vegetable dip or for adding into a salad, there are some delicious recipes full of carrot flavor as well.

  • Carrot bran muffins
  • Glazed carrots
  • Peas with lettuce and carrots (This recipe calls for onions, which are in the “foods worth trying” category. Oftentimes cooked onions are less acidic and more tolerable. However, if your bladder can’t tolerate them or you don’t want to risk it, omit the onion.)
  • Carrot cake blondies
  • Carrot cake pancakes (This recipe calls for walnuts, which are in the “foods worth trying” category. You can omit them if you don’t tolerate them well or don’t want to risk it.)

Cherries (foods worth trying)

While cherries seem like a summer fruit, their harvest usually begins in late spring. Whether you’re snacking on them fresh or using them in a recipe, an easy hack for pitting fresh cherries is using a clean metal paper clip. Shape it like an “S” and then put one end into the cherry on top where the stem is. Twist the paperclip and then you should be able to take the pit right out.(3)

Fava beans (foods worth trying)

You may also have heard these called broad beans. Whatever you call them, fava beans come into season in May and have a buttery, nutty taste. After you shell the beans you can steam, boil, mash or  grill the beans or eat them raw.(4) If you aren’t familiar with fava beans and their preparation, start with this article about how to cook, soak and peel fava beans.

  • Herbed fava beans with pasta (This recipe includes scallions, which are also in the “foods with trying” category; however, the scallions are cooked which helps with their acidity a bit. It’s also topped with some pepper, which is easily omitted if that is a problematic ingredient for you.)
  • Fresh fava bean and Parmesan salad (You can skip the pepper in this recipe and replace the lemon juice with lemon zest to make it more IC friendly.)
  • Sautéed fava beans
  • Fava bean fennel salad with Parmesan (You can omit the scallions and black pepper if needed and replace the lemon juice with lemon zest to make this recipe more IC friendly.)

Greens and herbs (usually bladder friendly)

A variety of greens and herbs can be found fresh in spring including arugula, pea shoots, chives, parsley and dill. Greens can be used beyond salads, and herbs can take a starring role in a dish rather than a last-minute addition.

Leeks (usually bladder friendly when cooked; foods worth trying when raw)

Leeks look like large scallions or green onions and can work well in hearty recipes and lighter recipes. When they’re cooked, they are usually bladder friendly. Raw leeks fall into the “foods worth trying” category.

Peas (usually bladder friendly)

Take a break from frozen or canned peas in the spring and enjoy them while they are fresh. You can eat peas by themselves or as part of other dishes. Either way, you’re getting some delicious, healthy benefits!

Radishes (usually bladder friendly)

Crisp, crunchy radishes are also spring produce that is usually bladder friendly. With a slight peppery taste and bright color, they can add flare to your food.

Rhubarb (usually bladder friendly)

Rhubarb is freshest in springtime and can be used for so much more than a rhubarb pie. Try it out in other recipes as well!

Scallions (foods worth trying)

Also called green onions, scallions are a light onion that add flavor to dishes. While scallions work well as topping for things like soup, they can also hold their own in recipes that feature them. They are in the “foods worth trying” category, so keep that in mind as you start working with them in your dishes.

Spinach (usually bladder friendly)

As a great source of iron and magnesium, spinach is good for you and especially good in spring.(4) It’s a versatile ingredient that can be added into lots of dishes (and drinks like smoothies) as well as stand on its own.

Strawberries (foods worth trying)

While you can pretty much find strawberries all year long at the grocery store these days, they are their sweetest (and best) in the springtime. It’s a great time to pick some up to try raw as a snack or in some recipes — or both!

 

References:

  1. WikiHow Staff. How to Substitute for Mayo. WikiHow. Sept. 12, 2019.
  2. Beyer J. Enjoying the Zing of Citrus Without the Sting. Simply Delicious. April 28, 2013.
  3. Buiano M. How to Pit Cherries Easily. July 20, 2020.
  4. Menyes C, et. al. What’s in Season in Spring: Asparagus, Spinach, Peas and More. The Daily Meal. March 18, 2021.