Do you know why food/eating experts promote eating seasonal foods? It’s because it makes sense from several different standpoints. Many restaurant menus offer “seasonal” dishes which usually refer to the types of vegetables that are in season. Supermarkets offer fruits and veggies in season because they are in abundance at that particular time of year. Local, seasonal foods are all around us, yet we often remain ignorant about why we should eat them.
There are 3 reasons to eat local, seasonal food. Let’s look at those reasons so we feel more empowered to make good shopping choices.
1 – It is generally cheaper.
Seasonal foods are cheaper in season versus out of season for the simple reason that they are in abundance. When supply is plenty and demand is moderate, prices are reasonable and affordable. Contrast this with a food that is out of season, where supply is low. For example, strawberries are mostly in season in the Spring. This is why you see loads of strawberries and shortcakes promoted heavily that time of year. (For health reasons, I recommend staying away from the shortcakes!) Prices are low in the Spring and Summer, but as we move into Fall, the prices rise.
In the Fall, a variety of squash make it into the store in droves. This is because we harvest that type of vegetable in the Fall. Since we have an abundance of squash, prices will reflect the supply.
The cost of seasonal produce is almost always cheaper than foods that are produced out of season. This is one of the biggest reasons why people should consider shopping seasonally. There are huge savings to be had by simply being aware of what is scarce and what is in great supply.
2 – Food tastes better in season.
Plants have life cycles and they peak at a certain point in that life cycle. This goes for fruits and vegetable plants as well as flowers, trees, shrubs and bushes. At some stage in the development of the plant, there will be the most nutritional benefit and this is when the fruit or vegetable should be harvested and eaten.
If you buy produce locally, you are more likely to get really fresh produce. Fresh food tastes better than food that has had to travel, losing its freshness on the way to the supermarket. Also, food that is in season (such as watermelon in the summer) is going to taste best when you eat it shortly after it has been picked. I recently picked up a half watermelon at the grocery store (it’s December as of this writing). I had some for breakfast and was not surprised when it just didn’t have it’s full mouth-watering, sweet flavor. It was total proof that buying out of season can have disappointing results.
Food tastes its best when it is freshest, and it will undoubtedly be at its freshest when it’s in season! There is also the very real consideration that many in-season foods can generally be sourced locally. “Farm to Table” is a phrase that was coined to describe local foods being served fresh and directly from the source with no middleman (such as a wholesaler, distributor or supermarket).
Start noticing all the Fall and Winter vegetables and consider making some new soups or dishes with these veggies.
3 – Food is healthier in season.
The body needs different kinds of fuel at different times of the year. We eat more fats in the winter to build a thermal blanket in our systems which help to keep us warm. And we tend to make a lot of hot, healthy soups and chilis in the winter because the heat helps to regulate our body temperature. Consider making roasted butternut squash soup in the Fall and notice how flavorful this fresh squash vegetable can be with a few added ingredients.
Just to help you out here:
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients
Cubed butternut squash
1 onion, sliced
3-5 whole, peeled garlic cloves
S & P
Extra virgin olive oil
Cayenne pepper (optional)
Directions
In a bowl, combine squash, onion, garlic, olive oil (enough to coat vegetables), S & P to taste and cayenne pepper (a few shakes). Lay out on a lined, foiled baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes at 350; stir around and bake another 15-20 minutes.
Scoop a portion of the mixture into a blender, add a little water and blend. Poor into another pot and scoop the remaining portion of the mixture into blender, repeating the previous step. Once soup is all combined, keep warm until ready to serve. Top with toasted pepitas (optional).
We already know that a balanced diet consists of fresh, unrefined foods that haven’t been processed(food additives, etc). Local, seasonal foods are farmed up the road and entirely unprocessed. Local, seasonal foods give you the best chance to get the best nutritional value out of your food. And the brilliant thing about eating seasonally is that your diet changes throughout the year! As a result, seasonal eaters get a huge variety in their diet further enhancing the health benefits of seasonal eating.
Eating local, seasonal foods 1) is more affordable, 2) tastes better and 3) is healthier for you. When you consider these benefits, it simply makes sense to get with the seasonal program and enjoy the variety that comes with changing your food selections throughout the year.
Keep an eye out for the 30 Day Clean Eating Challenge coming soon!
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