Eating in Season

Did you know that eating the plants of the season is better for you?  Not just because they are cheaper, but also because this is when they are filled with all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

In Shawn Stevenson’s book “Eat Smarter” he references that the best thing you can do for the health and diversity of your gut microbiome is to eat 30+ different types of plants per week.  Living in Southern California this couldn’t be any easier!

So what is seasonal food?

This simply means eating food as close to when it was harvested. Seasonal food is fresher, tastier and more nutritious than food consumed out of season. Even though we all like to eat strawberries year round, the best time to eat them is when they can be purchased directly from a local grower shortly after harvest. 

Why buy from a farm? Seasonal fruits and vegetables produced on local farms are often fresher, as they do not require long distances for transport. Also, unlike out of season produce which is harvested early in order to be shipped and distributed to your local retail store, crops picked at their peak of ripeness are also better tasting and full of flavor. What’s more, studies have shown that fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients when allowed to ripen naturally on their parent plant.

Can’t buy fresh all the time, or need something that isn’t in season…the next best option is frozen.  Frozen fruits and veggies are always flash frozen at the peak of their season and depending on where you are buying your produce (the aisles of the grocery store vs the farm), frozen might be fresher.

Two more fun points about buying in season! 

Fruits and veggies will look their brightest and best…which is exactly how I want you to feel when you enjoy eating them. 

And, eating with the seasons, not only is healthier for you, but also helps keep you grounded and in closer tune to the world around us.

Now go enjoy and amazing salad!