3 Reasons to Eat Seasonally

Seasonal Eating is simply like it sounds- eating with the seasons. Living in the midwest, it is a little bit harder to eat strictly with the season because of our cold winters, but now is a really great time to get in the habit of being mindful of where your food is coming from and learning which foods grow best in certain seasons. 

• Higher Nutritional Quality + Better Taste

The taste of tomatoes in the summertime from your garden or the farmers market versus the tomatoes from the grocery store in the winter months… It’s a world of difference! Taste and nutritional quality go hand in hand- produce that is growing in its season is much more nutrient dense. There is typically a rotation implemented by the farmers for each of their crops to keep the soil at its best to create an environment that allows produce to flourish and soak up all of the essential nutrients. When produce is out of season and still grown, it is not able to follow natural growing and ripening patterns. Some farmers may use extra chemicals to speed of the process so it can be shipped to grocery stores to be purchased. Your taste buds and your bodies will thank you for eating seasonally! 

• It’s Cost Effective

In season produce is cheaper, you guys! Have you noticed how the price of berries skyrockets during the winter months? That’s because it takes more work and energy to grow those berries and have them (most likely) imported to the grocery store in your area! 

• It’s Better for the Environment

The list below is seasonal produce in the United States in January and February, which means while the produce has to travel to get here, it isn’t being shipped from other countries. That decreases the amount of travel time and less fuel emissions going into the environment. Farmers also do not have to preserve the vegetables as much for travel time which also helps the environment. 

SEASONAL PRODUCE IN JANUARY TO FEBRUARY

Collard greens

Grapefruit

Kiwi

mushrooms 

Onions

Oranges

Pears 

Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Turnips

Winter Squash

TIPS TO EAT SEASONALLY

• Check the labels on your produce- try buying produce grown in the United States
• Shop at the local farmers markets during the spring and summer months
• Don’t be afraid to branch out and try new recipes with your seasonal produce!

A GREAT RESOURCE

https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org

Harley’s Blog: http://www.allthosehwords.com/blog/

In Strength and Confidence,

Harley

The Pilates Barre Studio