Eating Seasonally: Enjoying Nature’s Bounty All Year Round
Eating seasonally means enjoying nature’s bounty as it ripens and comes into season, and is an important part of a healthy, sustainable diet. Eating seasonally has many benefits, from supporting local farmers to reducing your carbon footprint, to giving your body the nutrients it needs to thrive. Here, we’ll explore the benefits of eating seasonally, how to shop for seasonal produce, and some delicious seasonal recipes to get you started.
Benefits of Eating Seasonally
Eating seasonally comes with a host of benefits, both for your health and the environment. Here are some of the biggest benefits of eating seasonally:
Freshness
One of the main benefits of eating seasonally is that the produce is fresher and tastes better. When you buy produce that’s in season, it’s likely been picked within the last few days, and hasn’t had to travel very far. This means that it not only tastes better, but it also retains more of its nutrients.
Support Local Farmers
When you buy produce that’s in season, you’re supporting local farmers and the local economy. This is especially true if you buy directly from farmers markets or farm stands. Not only does this support local farmers, but it also helps the environment by reducing the amount of transportation needed to get the produce to your table.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Buying produce that’s in season and grown locally also helps reduce your carbon footprint. Since the produce hasn’t had to travel very far, it uses less energy and resources to get it to you. This is especially important if you’re trying to reduce your environmental impact.
Nutrients
Eating seasonally also ensures that you’re getting the most nutrients out of your produce. When produce is in season, it’s at its peak ripeness, which means it has the highest nutrient content. Eating seasonally also helps you get a variety of nutrients, as different fruits and vegetables are in season throughout the year.
Shopping for Seasonal Produce
Now that you know the benefits of eating seasonally, here are some tips for shopping for seasonal produce:
Farmers Markets
The best way to shop for seasonal produce is to visit your local farmers market. Not only do farmers markets offer a wide variety of seasonal produce, but you can also talk to the farmers and get advice on how to best prepare their produce. Plus, you can find out when different produce is in season, so you can plan your meals accordingly.
Grocery Stores
If you don’t have access to a farmers market, your local grocery store is a good option. Most grocery stores carry seasonal produce, and you can usually find out what’s in season by asking the produce manager.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
If you want to take your commitment to eating seasonally to the next level, consider joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. CSAs are programs where members buy shares in a local farm and receive weekly deliveries of fresh produce from the farm. This is a great way to support local farmers and get a variety of seasonal produce.
Plant a Garden
If you have the space, planting a garden is a great way to get fresh, seasonal produce. Gardening is a fun and rewarding hobby, and it’s a great way to get fresh, nutritious produce. Plus, you can customize your garden to grow the fruits and vegetables that you like the most.
Seasonal Recipes
Now that you know how to shop for seasonal produce, here are some delicious seasonal recipes to get you started:
Spring
Spring is a great time to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables. Try this Spring Vegetable Quiche for a delicious and nutritious meal:
Ingredients:
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 cup asparagus, chopped
– 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
– 1/2 cup frozen peas
– 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 1/2 cup shredded cheese
– 2 eggs
– 1/2 cup milk
– 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Add asparagus, mushrooms, peas, oregano, salt, and pepper and cook until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.
4. Grease a 9-inch pie plate and spread the vegetable mixture in the bottom. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
5. Whisk together eggs and milk and pour over the vegetables. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
6. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
Summer
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables. Try this Summer Corn and Zucchini Salad for a refreshing summertime dish:
Ingredients:
– 2 ears fresh corn, husked and kernels cut off
– 2 zucchini, diced
– 1 red bell pepper, diced
– 1/4 cup red onion, diced
– 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine corn, zucchini, bell pepper, red onion, and parsley.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
3. Pour dressing over vegetables and toss to combine.
4. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Fall
Fall is the perfect time to enjoy heartier, warm dishes. Try this Butternut Squash Soup for a cozy fall meal:
Ingredients:
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
– 4 cups vegetable broth
– 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
– 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
– Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add butternut squash, vegetable broth, thyme, nutmeg, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer until squash is tender, about 20 minutes.
4. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth.
5. Serve warm.
Winter
Winter is a great time for hearty dishes. Try this Winter Pot Pie for a comforting meal:
Ingredients:
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 1 onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 cup carrots, diced
– 1 cup celery, diced
– 1 cup potatoes, diced
– 1 cup frozen peas
– 1 cup frozen corn
– 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
– 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
– 2 cups vegetable broth
– 1/2 cup milk
– 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
3. Add carrots, celery, potatoes, peas, corn, thyme, nutmeg, salt, and pepper and cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
4. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir to combine.
5. Add vegetable broth and milk and bring to a simmer. Simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
6. Grease a 9-inch pie plate and pour the vegetable mixture into it.
7. Place the sheet of puff pastry over the top and press down to seal. Cut a few slits in the top.
8. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is bubbling.
Conclusion
Eating seasonally is a great way to get fresh, nutritious produce, support local farmers, and reduce your carbon footprint. Shopping for seasonal produce at farmers markets, grocery stores, CSAs, and even planting a garden are all great ways to get the freshest produce. And these seasonal recipes are a great way to get started enjoying nature’s bounty all year round.