Did you know that prior to the invention of the modern refrigerator in the early 1900s, seasonal eating was the norm. As there was no way to preserve many foods (other than salting and canning) most foods had to be consumed as they were harvested.
This seasonal way of eating isn’t a bad thing! Foods consumed at their ripest point are the most nutrient dense and provide us with more nutrition than foods that are harvested too early, late, or foods that sit on shipping t
rucks and containers for days or weeks. The longer it takes to get foods from the farm to the table the more nutrients they lose, this makes buying in season locally a wonderful choice, ensuring that we are giving our bodies the most nutrient dense fuel available!
Eating with the seasons just makes sense. Take a moment to think about it…
In the summertime, the most abundant foods are the ones that promote hydration; watermelon, cantaloupes, cucumbers, berries and tomatoes all have high water content that help to keep us from dehydrating on hot summer days. These wonderful fruits and veggies also require little, if any preparation other than washing and slicing.
During the autumn months, foods such as squash, potatoes, beets, parsnips, carrots, and apples are in season. These fruits and vegetables have a much longer shelf life than those grown in the summer months and can be combined to make soups and stews to warm us during the fall and winter months. They also have a tendency to slightly increase body fat, which would have been a huge benefit back in the pioneer days before modern heating. Many of the harvested autumn fruits and vegetables will last through winter and help to provide much needed vitamins and minerals to hold us over until spring.
Spring is full wonderfully nutrient dense greens such as kale, arugula, spinach, asparagus, dandelion greens and lettuce. These green foods offer incredible liver support and help to detoxify the body of the indoor air pollution (much more toxic than outdoor) as well as helping to aid in the shedding of stored water weight.
Before you know it, it’s summer again and the cycle starts all over…
So for those who are new to this way of eating, where do you start? How do you know what is in season and what isn’t? Hit up your local farmer’s market. When you buy locally grown food, you will find it in abundance there! It’s usually much less expensive too! Don’t have a farmer’s market? Take a trip to your local grocery store and look for produce that is on sale. This is usually a good indicator that the foods are grown locally and in abundance making their prices lower (less transportation costs and more competition). For those that are really adventurous, plant your own garden and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Regardless of how you choose to start, you can afford to eat healthier…it’s a mindset and a lifestyle. What are you waiting for?
Changing how you view food and how you eat is done in baby steps. Easing into a real foods lifestyle will help you stick to the positive changes you are making with less burn out. I teach an in depth course on the subject and help my clients not only see food in a healthier way but we work together to help them continue to implement these changes in their lives with recipes and weekly accountability check ins. For more information please email me through our contact page.
Tip: Buy berries locally in bulk from local berry farms in the summer and freeze to us throughout the year.