Eating in Season
When it comes to eating in season and choosing local produce, it’s like taking a healthy adventure supporting your health and the environment. Not all foods grow simultaneously, and there are many benefits to buying food in season. Not only is it more affordable, but fruits and vegetables in season are at their most flavoursome and nutritious.
Buying locally produced foods means that the food gets to your plate quicker…the longer food spends in storage or transit, the higher the chance of it spoiling and becoming waste. Looking out for locally grown seasonal produce will help ensure freshness and reduce food waste. Fruits and vegetables picked during their season are also in peak supply, so the cost of growing, harvesting and transporting can be lower. So it makes sense that locally sourced seasonal produce will cost less and taste better!
Leafy vegetables represent the fresh new growth of springtime. Rich green vegetables provide us with essential B vitamins, folate and iron. In the summertime, berries steal the show. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries provide nutrition, tastiness and gorgeous colours to our diets! Berries are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that offer a range of health benefits. For instance, strawberries are a fantastic source of vitamin C and manganese, while blueberries are known for their antioxidant polyphenols. Raspberries and blackberries, on the other hand, are rich in fibre and contain vitamins like vitamins A and folate. These fruits are much more affordable in season and freeze well, stock up in summertime to enjoy berries throughout the year!
Autumn foods introduce earthy colours like greens, oranges and deep reds. Root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, turnip and suede are nutritious additions to stews and casseroles or are delicious roasted or mashed. Warming nourishing foods continue with winter. Cabbage, turnip, broccoli, onions, beetroot, cauliflower, parsnips and celery are readily available in winter and make great additions to stews and soups.
Apart from taste, there are environmental benefits to buying in season. When you choose local produce, you’re reducing the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation. You’re also supporting local farmers who grow food in your own community. Eating in season and choosing local produce is about embracing the bounty of each season and enjoying the flavours of nature.
