Note: Short posts like this one offer a big-picture look at nutrition, lifestyle, and sustainability topics. For a deeper dive into this subject, or any other one, reach out about my virtual classes or one-on-one sessions!
Seasonal eating is a nod of gratitude to the Earth. It is a surrendering to that magnetic pull of our body toward nature. Which makes sense because we are nature. I recently talked about this in a post, The Interconnectedness of our Health and the Environment. How our human body is made up of the same elemental building blocks as Earth. Which means our bodies crave the natural nutrients from the Earth to help us function as intended.
Let’s take a quick look at what it means to eat seasonally, why it’s a huge boost for your health, and the planet’s health as well, and how to do it.
What is Seasonal Eating?
Eating seasonally means following nature’s cycles and eating foods that are harvested during their natural peak growing time. Where I live in Northern California that means binging on asparagus all spring into early summer and persimmons late fall into early winter. While I deeply miss these favorites during off-season, I’ve learned to lean into what’s available.
Different fruits and veggies thrive at various times depending on where you live. But grocery stores can make it seem like everything is in season all the time! Off-season produce is often imported, taking a very long and environmentally harmful journey to get to you. Not to mention their potentially depleted nutrients and lackluster taste.
Fun fact: Organic produce in season cost less than out-of-season produce! When something is at its peak of consumption, farmers want to get as much of the abundance to market and onto your plate as soon as possible!
The Seasonal Food Guide is a fantastic nonprofit that has a feature to look at your location and selected month to show you all the produce in season near you!
Why Eat Seasonal When I Can Buy Strawberries Year-Round?
Ever gone strawberry picking in the prime harvesting season? When we went to a u-pick farm near us this summer, the strawberries were juicy, sweet and red all the way through. Here’s a hint I learned from a nearby farmer: if you’ve been eating strawberries that are white on the inside, then you’ve never had a ripe strawberry!
Here are some benefits to eating seasonally:
- Increased nutrients: In-season produce absorbs more nutrients from the sun and soil as it is harvested at the peak of ripeness, bursting with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants!
- Quality & taste: Ripe fruits and veggies maintain their natural high quality which includes phenomenal taste since they have the opportunity to develop their full flavor potential.
Fun Fact: Fruits and vegetables that taste better are also typically more nutrient-dense and better for you! This is nature’s way of letting you know the food is good for your body, which naturally encourages you to eat more of it.
- Environmentally friendly: In-season produce skips the transportation and storage steps, cutting down on carbon emissions compared to produce that is imported.
- Supports local farmers: Seasonal produce is picked when ripe and can’t travel far before being consumed, which means it is provided by your local farmers.
- Cost: As mentioned previously, in-season produce is often cheaper since it is growing in abundance and ready-to-eat when harvested.
- Connection to our ancestors: Since the beginning of time, people (and all other animals) have eaten seasonally out of necessity.This natural way of eating can inspire you to explore connections to your cultural and historical roots.
Want to learn more about nutrition and connecting to the ancient stirrings tugging at your soul? Sign up for my next set of virtual group classes!
Tips for Sourcing Seasonal Produce
- Use a seasonal guide: Use the Seasonal Guide mentioned above and take the list with you next time you go grocery shopping.
- Farmer’s market: Your local farmer’s market only carries in-season produce! It’s a wonderful place to talk to your local farmers too.
- CSA boxes: Community-supported agriculture (CSA) boxes are a fantastic way to partner with your local farmers and receive weekly or monthly boxes filled with what’s in season.
- Produce garden: Some neighborhoods have their own produce gardens where you can have a plot to grow your own fruits and vegetables and swap with others.
We don’t all have the luxury of farmer’s markets and local produce delivery. Here are tips for still enjoying in-season produce if you don’t live near farms:
- Join a CSA: Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is still an option if you don’t live close to produce farms as they often are still delivered to larger city hubs where you can pick it up.
- Buy frozen produce: Frozen fruits and vegetables are picked when they are ripe and in season. This means their nutrients are locked in so you aren’t missing out on the health benefits.
- Buy and preserve: Whenever you do have access to in-season produce, you can buy it in bulk and preserve it by freezing, pickling or canning!
- Buy regionally seasonal produce: Even if you don’t live near an abundance of produce farms, your state or even neighboring ones will be delivering what’s in-season to your local market.
Bottom Line
Let the Earth be your guide.
Want to learn more about nutrition and connecting to your ancient stirrings? Sign up for my next set of virtual group classes!
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I hope you loved exploring seasonal eating! Feel free to leave a comment below with your experience—questions are always welcome too.