Eating with the seasons, not only benefits our diets, but also helps the environment and our pocketbooks. I’ve been so inspired by this project that I’ve decided to put together a calendar with monthly recipes inspired by that month’s seasonal produce. Stay tuned because I will have that calendar available for purchase in the upcoming weeks.

Eating with the Seasons Saves money

If you walk along the edges of the produce aisle, you’ll see a selection of produce. These fruits and vegetables are usually in season, so they’ll be less expensive. There are not as many traveling or storage expenses associated with locally-sourced produce. This reduces the production costs passed onto the consumer.

Once you set up a garden, the maintenance is relatively inexpensive. You can use the same dirt and save your seeds year after year.

Seasonal Food is Fresher

The average piece of produce found in the store traveled over 1000 miles to reach your plate. Often this means, it was picked before it was ripe or might start degrading over the long trip. Compare locally grown produce to store produce. You might see a difference in color and vibrancy, rather than limp and dried up. When you grow your own food or buy from a local farmer, the produce is picked that day or the the day before. The produce is fresh and has more nutrients.

Seasonal Produce is Healthier

Not only is locally-sourced seasonal produce fresher, it also has more nutrients. Anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C, folate and carotenes rapidly decline when stored for periods of time. Phyto-nutrient content is also reduced.  Large markets and grocers may buy out-of -season produce that has been gassed, irradiated (a burst of radiation to kill germs) and preserved in wax to extend shelf life.

Seasonal Food is More flavorful

More nutrients means more flavor. That’s why nothing beats a homegrown tomato. You can pick that sucker off and eat it right then. Store-bought tomatoes ripen off the vine, which just doesn’t pack as much punch.

When crops travel long distances, it’s harvested early and refrigerated to prevent spoiling. Chilling and per-maturely harvesting reduces flavor. Then the crops are heated to finish the ripening process, which changes the texture and the taste. This process often causes an overly fibrous texture.

Sending holiday cookie baskets to your special someone is a great way to make a good impression without going overboard.

Seasonal Food is Less traveled

Eating with the seasons is all about local food. Would you feel your best after traveling 1000s of miles? No probably not. Food is not meant to travel that far. If given the choice, always choose food from your state or even city.

Eating Seasonally is Better for the environment

Eating with the seasons is much better for the environment, especially if the farmers don’t use pesticides or herbicides. This will vary from farmer to farmer. However, farmers with small amount of land rely heavily on that land, so they tend to take better care of it. If nothing else, your produce will only have to travel a hundred miles rather than thousands.

Eating with the Seasons Supports Your Body

In winter, nature provides us with citrus, especially high in Vitamin C, which is very important for preventing infections such as colds and flu’s. Winter vegetables are often suitable for hot meals, healthy stews, soups, casseroles and other warming meals.

Summer foods such as stone fruits provide extra beta-carotenes and other carotenoids that help protect us against sun damage, they also provide more sweetness for an energetic summer. Other summer foods such as salad vegetables can be incorporated into refreshing and cool summer salads, along with protein powders to enhance the nutritional value of your meals.

Locally Sourced Produce Support Economy

Supporting local farmers and eating with the seasons is better for the economy. Just like supporting other local businesses, local farms give more back to our local economy.

Local Produce Supports Community AKA Know Your Farmer

Getting to know where your food is comes from, who grows it and how they do it also makes you feel more connected to that whole process. CSA’s, farmer’s markets and other ways to support farmers, create communities.  Communities that are centered around local food encourage us to share our knowledge, ask questions and engage in our own local environment. We become more aware that we’re all in this together and we should support each other.

Eating with the Seasons Encourages Home Cooking

Eating seasonal produce forces you to cook more, which is much better for your health. It allows you take control of your body and what you put in it.  Now you can control which oil you choose to cook with, how much sugar you add to your food etc, as you are consciously making better choices for your health. Visit ThorsFork.com for more home cooking tips and recipes.

Using Seasonal Produces Forces You to Get Creative

Being part of a CSA helped me save money, but it also forced me to try and cook with new things. The same with the shopping at the farmers market. It challenges your creativity, so you come up with new, fun and delicious dishes based on what you find. Variety is also the key to a healthy diet. And diet variety is also important to reducing food intolerance and allergies.

Seasonal recipes

It’s not an Oklahoma summer, if you don’t experience that is fresh peaches. We buy our peaches from Livesay Orchards. We took these peaches to the next level with this Grilled Peaches recipe. We hope you give it a try and inspires you to try eating with the seasons!

Taste of the Month Recipe Calendar

Eating with the Seasons