Eating With The Seasons.

I was once told that everything that our bodies need is readily available according to the season that we’re in. The nourishment we need, the vitamins, minerals and everything else that is needed can be seen by the season we’re in. I’ll admit, it took a while for this to sink in. I knew it, of course, but really and truly understanding it was something different.

So, I started looking into what food I was wanting at different times of the year, and what food was readily available. It became part of my mindful eating process. As always, I’ve found it’s a changing, fluid practice. The deeper I go, the more I learn. This year, I’m keenly aware of the foods I grow at home- there’s no better way to know that the food you’re eating is in season than growing it and harvesting it yourself.

I’m also more conscious of the wild plants growing around me- seeing what is thriving in nature in each season gives a good indication of the kinds of food we need to eat. Wild foraging, whilst I haven’t tried it yet, is a great way to harness the power of in season nature- but make sure you seek help from a knowledgeable source to be able to do this- not everything that grows is edible for humans!

Benefits of Eating With The Seasons.

If you’re new to eating with the seasons, or perhaps got a little lost, here are 5 benefits to remember when thinking of what foods you consume!

1 – It tastes better – if you’ve ever grown your own food, you’ll know just how different freshly picked can taste. Eating with the seasons means the food is naturally fresher

2- Contains less chemicals- food that has been grown out of season usually requires chemicals to make it grow- which you’ll then ingest. Eating with the seasons means those chemicals are not required- so the food you’re eating is fresher and healthier.

3- Better for the environment – food that is forced to grow out of season requires heat and light- or to be shipped in from a different climate, which soon creates a carbon footprint- seasonal foods that are grown when they are in season relies less on artifical lighting etc, and can be grown in the same country, meaning less fuel is needed to ship it in.

4- Gives us what we nutritionally need- nature will always provide what we need in the right season- foods that are richer in vitamin c are more abundant during the colder months, when we need it more.

5- It’s cheaper. When food is grown locally, the sell price is lower because the process is shorter to get it too you. When there is an abundance of the same food (like when you’re eating in season fruit or veg) the price goes down.

Seasonal Fruits & Veg

It can be a little confusing trying to figure out what is seasonal fruit and veg when you’re first starting out- here’s some examples of what is fresh in each season. Use this as your base- your area may differ and change as to when things are in season depending on the climate you’re in. The list I’ve shared is based in Yorkshire, UK.

Have you tried eating seasonally before? Are you going to start this year? I’d highly recommend trying to grow some of your own (small herb pots are a great starter!) so that you can get a good feel for growing seasonally to enable you to eat seasonally too!