Three Benefits to Eating Seasonally
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We just celebrated Labor Day, PSLs (pumpkin spiced latte’s) have been released, and come September 22nd, it will officially be Autumn! Not only does this mean a decline in temperatures outside, but it also means a change in the produce that is “in season”. With transportation and technology, here in the United States, we pretty much have access to any fruits or vegetables we want all year long. But there may something to the way our ancestors used to have to eat… seasonally! Today I want to talk about three benefits to eating a seasonally-based diet.
1. It’s healthier for you
Food that is grown and consumed during its appropriate season has actually been found to contain greater nutritional value! A study, looking at broccoli, actually found that broccoli grown during the fall (its peak season) actually contained twice as much vitamin C as broccoli grown during the spring. [1]
When food is grown year-round, some of the processes that naturally occur during one season of the year have to be artificially induced during “off-seasons”. This process of artificially ripening or growing vegetables and fruits typically involves chemicals in which we aren’t really sure of the long-term implications.
2. It is more cost effective
Often times, if you’re purchasing produce that is in season, it is probably local or didn’t travel overly far to get to your local grocery store. The less distance food has to travel, the lower the cost for transportation and that savings gets passed on to you, the consumer! Less travel time also means that fewer interventions are required to keep the fruit from ripening during transport. Not only is this better for your wallet, but it’s better for the environment too!
On top of transportation requirements, when a fruit or vegetable is in season, the crops are typically plentiful and so there’s a greater supply available. Based on the simple premise of “supply and demand” that we all learned in economics 101, if the supply is high, typically the cost is low and vice versa. That’s why you’ve probably noticed that strawberries are way more affordable in the summer than they are in the winter… because they’re naturally a summer crop! [2]
3. It tastes better
You may have been one of the many of us who took up gardening this year to maintain our sanity, and if you did, you’ve probably noticed that everything you’ve grown is much more juicy and delicious. While part of it may be that you did it yourself, when produce is able to go through the entire growth and ripening process on the tree, vine or plant, it is going to naturally have more flavor! In order to keep up with demand and transportation, often times produce is picked before it’s actually ready and then continues the ripening process en route to or at the grocery store. That’s also why fruits and veggies purchased at your local farmer’s market tend to taste so much better.
So now that the end of September is quickly approaching, what foods should you consider working into your seasonal meal plan?
Some of my favorite Autumn vegetables that can be found in Texas include okra, peas, leeks, green beans, bok choy, and mushrooms. For a delicious Whole 30 and Paleo Potato Leek Soup, check out this link. Some of my favorite Autumn fruits include persimmons, pears, apples, figs, and plums. I find a lot of people haven’t tried a persimmon before, so if that’s you, this is a great time to try something new! For an idea on how to throw together a tasty Autumn fruit salad check out this link. Some other great seasonal herbs include basil, lavender, green onion, chives, mint, oregano, and parsley. [3]
What are the easiest ways to get my hands on some local in-season produce?
Farmer’s Markets are always a good option, because you’ll have a decent selection to choose from. With Covid-19 restrictions, you may have a harder time finding one, but I have definitely been starting to see some farmer’s markets in my area pop up. To find a farmer’s market near you, click here.
Join a co-op. Food co-ops have been around for over 150 years and is basically a food distribution organization that partners with local famers to distribute local produce and meats to members of the community. Typically with a co-op, you’ll either pay a monthly membership which includes a certain amount of fresh and seasonal foods or you order select items in advance. With this option and a farmer’s market, you’re also supporting small business owners (local farmers) and you’re helping protect the environment.
Read signs and labels at your neighborhood grocery store. In most grocery stores, the signs in the produce section will tell you where that product is from. If the signs don’t tell you, the packaging and/or label will for sure. For example, Whole Foods will usually have mushrooms that are from Texas and mushrooms that are from Mexico… I tend to go with the ones grown in Texas since that is where I live.
Eating a seasonally-based diet is a fun and wonderful way to consume a variety of foods and nutrients! Every crop has a slightly different harvest time, so each month research which fruits and vegetables are readily available in your area and then work them into your meal plan! A great resource for this is https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org. See something you’ve never tried before? That’s a perfect opportunity to try a new recipe and introduce your family to a different food and flavor!
If you have specific questions about seasonal eating, feel free to reach out. We also have a continually updated page on our website of Dr. Nikki’s favorite recipes, so be sure to check back regularly!
Resources
February, 2008. Nutritional quality of organic, conventional, and seasonally grown broccoli using vitamin C as a marker. (Retrieved September 10, 2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17852499/
October 15, 2019. 4 Reasons To Eat By The Seasons + What Is In Season Right Now. (Retrieved September 10, 2020). https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4807/10-Reasons-To-Eat-Whats-In-Season.html
https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/texas/late-september