The hint of spring in the air means it's time to get outside and walk, garden, bicycle, play baseball or whatever activity helps you celebrate the end of winter.

The faster you get through the supermarket, the more time you will have to be outdoors enjoying the warmer weather. Get ready to take a whirlwind tour of your favorite grocery store.

The goal is to get the best foods in the shortest amount of time by going around only the outer aisles of the store.

Pick some produce

Put some colorful fresh fruits and vegetables in your basket. Don't feel guilty if you opt for the convenience of bagged salads or precut vegetables. The less time it takes to prepare vegetables, the more likely you are to eat them. Be daring and try a fruit or vegetable you have never tasted. You may find you like broccoflower or clementines.

Grab a loaf of whole grain bread

For the highest nutrient content, choose a bread labeled � percent whole wheat.” If you are looking for whole grain bread, don't be fooled by fancy names. Most 5-grain, 7-grain and 12-grain breads contain some white flour. “Wheat bread” is not whole grain bread although added caramel coloring may make it look like whole wheat bread.

Select a package or two of lean meat

The lowest fat choices in the meat case are loin or round cuts of beef or pork, unbreaded fish and shellfish and skinless white meat poultry. If the package is labeled 90 percent fat free or better, it is a lean meat choice. Choose a roast and you will have leftovers for sandwiches and another dinner.

Stock up on low fat dairy products

Choose skim or 1 percent milk and light yogurt. Find cheeses with 50 percent less fat and light or fat free sour cream and cream cheese.

Head for the checkout lane

If you leave the store now, you have bought the perishable foods you need to eat well. If you have run out of cereal, pasta, rice, oil, condiments or canned fruits and vegetables you may need to go down the aisles in the center of the store. Be aware that the longer you spend in these aisles, the more likely you are to buy foods that are high in calories, sugar, fat and sodium because you have entered the “processed foods zone.”

Visit www.cce.cornell.edu/cayuga for more nutrition information and easy and healthy recipes.

Christine Gutelius, MA, RD, CDN, is a nutrition resource educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County

Roasted Red Pepper Bruschetta

Makes 4 servings

4 slices Italian or French bread, 1/2-inch thick

7-ounce jar roasted red bell peppers, drained and cut into 1/2-inch strips or 1 cup chopped tomatoes)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon parsley flakes

2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon oil

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 garlic clove, finely chopped or 1 teaspoon bottled chopped garlic

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Place bread slices on ungreased cookie sheet.

Mix remaining ingredients.

Spoon onto bread. Bake 6-8 minutes or until edges of bread are golden brown. Serve hot.

- Source: Betty Crocker