Since produce is available to us year round, it can be difficult trying to understand what is actually in season and what is not. Of course you should always look for ripe, fresh fruits and vegetables, however you might want to check with your local grocer to see what is the perfect food for each season. But until then…..here is a simple guide to help get you started…
FALL FOODS
winter squash (acorn, butternut, buttercup, delicata, hubbard, kabocha)
apples
beets
cranberries
figs
grapes
mushrooms
parsnips
pears
pomegranates
pumpkin
sweet potatoes
WINTER FOODS
chestnuts
grapefruit
kale
leeks
lemons
oranges/tangerines
radicchio
radishes
rutabaga
turnips
SPRING FOODS
apricots
artichokes
asparagus
avocados
carrots
cherries
chicory
chives
collards
fennel
mangoes
peas
rhubarb
spinach
spring lettuces
strawberries
sugar, snap and snow peas
watercress
SUMMER FOODS
blackberries
blueberries
raspberries
broccoli
corn
cucumbers
eggplant
green beans
nectarines
okra
peaches
pineapples
plums
summer squash
tomatoes
watermelon
zucchini
HEY, WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?:
- healthier
- cost effective
- enjoy a greater variety
- better for the environment
- very delicious!
According to Esther Blum, author of Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous: A Nutritionist’s Guide to Living Well While Living It Up, fresh food is also the most nutritious. And that nutritional boost might pay off under the mistletoe: “When your diet is naturally richer in vitamins and minerals then you are going to increase your chances of beating a cold and keeping your immune system solid through the holiday party season,” says Blum.
Yummm!!! That’s good enough for me!!