No matter if it’s falling behind in November or springing ahead in March, Daylight Saving Time can be a struggle. (We are speaking from firsthand experience here). This year, emerge from winter hibernation with these five simple tips to help you embrace the leap ahead this spring.

Fun Fact: The main purpose of Daylight Saving Time (often called “Summer Time”) is to make better use of daylight during the spring and summer months. We change our clocks during the summer months to move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening to extend the length of the day. Learn more about the history of Daylight Saving Time.

#1 Drink Herbal Teas

During the colder months of fall and winter, it’s a good idea to drink warm beverages like bone broth and herbal teas that contain comforting spices like anise, cardamom and cinnamon to keep us toasty – from the inside – on those brutally cold days. As the spring season approaches, swap your favorite winter teas for light, citrusy, herbal teas to give your senses a boost of invigorating energy – perfect for all that spring cleaning you plan to do, right? 😉 Some fun flavors might be teas that feature: fruit (apricots, raspberries, pears, etc), a white tea base (which is much lighter than a black tea or even some green teas), hibiscus, lemongrass, mint or rosehips. And throw in a piece of our dried wakame or kombu to add another layer of flavor and nutritional benefits. Genius.

#2 Focus on Fresh

The springtime season invites us to focus on freshness. Fresh air, fresh flowers and fresh food. Yum! Since spring is all about keeping things fresh, head to your local farmers market and fill up on springtime produce. Then, do yourself a favor and take some time each week to wash and prep your haul for the week ahead. Chopping, cutting, dicing and slicing fresh fruits and vegetables ahead of time will make preparing weekly meals and snacks that much easier when spring schedules start to get busy.

Need some recipe ideas? Make a fresh batch of Spring Vegetable and Chickpea with Wakame Soup and enjoy it with a side of crusty Homemade Sourdough Seaweed Bread, Sourdough Seaweed Crackers or try this Easy Spring Farmers Market Pasta. If you find yourself with vegetable scraps leftover from your food prep, repurpose them in this recipe for Carrot Top Pesto or Scrappy Vegetable Stock and Noodle Soup. Someone pass us a spoon please!

#3 Get Outside

After the dreary winter months, greet spring with some time spent outdoors in Mother Nature. Whether it’s a brisk morning walk before work, an afternoon lunchtime picnic with a co-worker at a local park, or an evening workout with friends outdoors, carve out time to get outside and enjoy the fresh springtime air. If you really want to connect with the Earth, try walking in fresh grass barefoot, which can help you feel grounded during this time of seasonal transition.

#4 Lighten Up

During fall and winter, our bodies crave warming foods to keep us cozy like casseroles, classic comfort foods, and homemade soups, stews and hearty dishes, but during spring, temperatures begin to rise, so it’s time to start cooking (and snacking) light. That means stepping away from the slow cooker (sorry!) and substituting lighter fare like chilled gazpachos, fresh wraps, handcrafted sandwiches smothered in hummus, homemade pasta salads, smoothies or springtime salads for heavy recipes . While you prepare your springtime meals, sneak in an added serving of sea vegetables with a spoonful of Kombu Puree or top recipes with a flavorful Seaweed Seasoning blend.

#5 Shop for the Season

As you grocery shop, be on the lookout for new foods that are in season during the spring months. Some spring fruits and vegetables include: asparagus, broccoli, garlic, honeydew melons, peas and rhubarb. Check out this seasonal food guide to see what foods are in season in your region and be sure to support the local farmers and growers in your community by visiting your town’s farmers market. Some delicious recipes that incorporate fresh springtime produce include:

• Fig, Date and Rainbow Chard Pasta with Crushed Red Pepper and Garlic

• Garlic, Arugula, Olive Penne

• Halibut Tacos with Asparagus Wakame Slaw and Sriracha “Crema”

• Herby Tahini Pasta with Garlic and Walnuts

• Roasted Garlic Rotini with Vegan Alfredo

• Vegan One Pot Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta

Springing ahead for Daylight Saving Time doesn’t have to be a struggle. Instead, embrace the new season (and flavors) to help you transition from winter to spring with ease.