Do you eat foods according to the season? Do you actually know what’s in season at different times of year? Sometimes it can be hard to tell. Particularly when large grocery stores have out-of-season produce on sale ALL THE TIME… for example, peaches for sale in the middle of winter. I mean, come on. Or, they get tricky and have shelves labelled ‘seasonal food’ that is full of, for example, Easter eggs in March. Le sigh, that’s not the type of seasonal food we’re talking about.
What I’m talking about is what grows naturally and best during each different season. These are the foods that tend to match our nutritional and digestive needs at that time of year. In winter, for example, we see an abundance of nourishing, nurturing foods that are often best when cooked slowly and eaten in warm dishes. A perfect match for the cooler months!
At this time of year, the following fruit and vegetables are in season and should be eaten with abandon:
FRUIT
Pears
Apples
Quince
Mandarins
Oranges
Pink grapefruit
Lemons
Kiwi fruit
VEGETABLES
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Brussels sprouts
Kale
Spinach
Chicory
Avocado
Artichoke
Pumpkin
Ginger
Carrot
Beetroot
Turnip
Shallots
Fennel
Potato
Are you into seasonal foods? What are some of your favourite dishes at this time of year? I love a soup, a curry, or a slow cooked stew. I grate apples and pears into porridge. And we eat a LOT of citrus in our house. Delicious.