Why You Should Eat Seasonally
As I am writing this, it is the end of winter. Although I have learned to enjoy each season and not despise winter like I used to, I am ready for spring. Not only do I look forward to warmer temperatures and longer days, but I also look forward to fresh produce again. Which brings me to today’s topic- eating seasonally and the reasons for it. In the past I hadn’t really considered the seasonality of food; but as I dove more into growing my own food and shopping on a budget for my growing family, I learned to pay more attention to the seasons for clues. In other words, we are eating lots of potatoes and carrots and onions (store-able root vegetables) right now in the dead of winter and I am ready for sugar snap peas, spring greens and that first juicy red tomato;)
Because blackberries don’t grow in January…
If we take a moment to think about it, we recognize the food in the produce section of the grocery store is not all locally grown, fresh off the farm nearby. And that’s okay! There is, however, some strategy to your grocery shopping that can save you money and also give you the most bang for your buck nutritionally speaking. Let’s talk about the nutrition part first. I do not buy berries in January. Why? Because berries don’t grow in below-freezing temperatures, so I know that what I will find in the store will have been carted across the country after being picked in a location far away. As they sit in the truck, they are losing nutrients. Purchasing them out of season is less than ideal, nutritionally speaking.
Have you ever price-compared asparagus in the early spring versus the fall? There is a several dollar difference between the two! In addition to being nutritionally superior, seasonal produce is also less expensive during its growing season. People often mention how it can be expensive to “eat healthy”, but paying attention to what is in season can definitely save you money at the grocery store. Why is that? For one, it doesn’t cost as much to grow a fruit or vegetable in its preferred temperature and environment compared to a greenhouse. Plus, if it can be sourced closer to the grocery store instead of states away, transportation costs are cut. Both of these components have a determining factor on the price of the product.
Now, hear me out. I am not saying everything you buy this week should have been grown in a 50-mile radius of your location and only what is natural to your specific area for that time of year. There are perks to having a grocery store stocked with everything, not just seasonal foods. You get to pick and choose. Case in point: I buy bananas year-round and am thankful that I can do so. On the other hand, I still try to plan our meals around more seasonal foods for optimal nutrition and budget purposes. Plus, there are some ways you can enjoy out-of-season fruits and veggies while still gaining nutrients, which is what I want to focus on next.
In the summer, I grow berries of all kinds- strawberries, blackberries, raspberries. We can’t eat them all before they go bad, so sometimes they go straight from the garden to the freezer. The same concept goes for commercially grown berries that are frozen. They are picked, then immediately frozen, which helps preserves the berries’ nutrients. So, instead of buying a package of fresh berries in the produce section in the dead of winter, you’re probably better off to grab a bag of frozen fruit. Consider tomatoes. They go bad pretty quickly if they are left on the counter or in your fridge. If they are canned into tomato sauce or salsa, though, they last much longer (and taste way better than a tomato in the store in February). Dried fruit and freeze-dried produce are also great options.
On a slightly different note, eating seasonally gives you a built-in meal plan so to speak. In the winter, you have root veggies perfect for soups and stews. Summer gives you fresh ingredients for salads and corn to grill along with your burgers. Fall harvest brings pumpkins into the mix. In my opinion, eating seasonally protects you from the healthy eating “burnout” if you will. Using the different growing seasons to help guide your food choices naturally gives you variety and keeps things exciting. Because no one wants to eat the same salad every day of their life!
One last thought on eating seasonally. It can be a way to connect you to your food and connect you with others. You don’t have to have a full-blown garden to reap the benefits of growing your own food. A few potted plants can yield a surprisingly large amount of fresh produce. And there is nothing like eating something you have cared for yourself, not to mention the benefits of getting outside and getting your hands dirty. Consider also how meaningful it is to receive food from an individual. Whether you make a trip to your local farmer’s market or are gifted a basket of squash from the neighbor next door, there is a special feeling from those encounters versus a trip to the store. And it goes the other way as well- it feels so good to be able share your bounty with others. All of these scenarios point to the community aspect of food. Being in tune with the seasons gives us opportunities to connect with our food and with others.
As a wrap-up, eating seasonal produce is better for you and your budget. It can help guide your meals and food choices. Maybe it will encourage you to grow some of your own fruits and veggies or connect with a local grower. So, next time you’re at the grocery store, take a moment to think about what is growing naturally in your area. And know that it’s still okay to buy those bananas;)
