Spring is here, and with winter behind us, farmers and gardeners alike have headed outside to begin planting. If you are looking for a spring refresh on your daily menu consider eating more seasonally. Not only will the foods you pick up at the farmer’s market or store taste better but they will also be more nutritious, safer for the environment, and leave more green in your wallet. What could be better than that? Not a whole lot.
Flavor. One thing you may notice about eating seasonally is the difference in taste. Produce that is in season will typically have more flavor than their out of season counterparts. The reason being is the in-season produce is allowed to grow in its perfect conditions – resulting in a more flavorful and tastier product.
Nutrition. Aside from being more flavorful, allowing produce to grow in the appropriate conditions also results in higher nutritional content. Food that is purchased out of season is typically harvested early and then refrigerated so that it does not rot during transportation. Thus produce is not allowed to fully mature and is not as nutritious as it would be if it were eaten in season.
Environment. Eating in season is also easier on the environment. Aside from farmer’s being able to replenish soil by rotating their crops, there is less need for chemicals to preserve the food in its unripen state as well as less need for fuel to refrigerate and transport the produce.
Economy. Not only does eating in season give on fresher and nutritious produce but it is also easier on the pocket book. In season produce is harvested in abundance making it a simple matter of supply and demand.
Nutrition. Aside from being more flavorful, allowing produce to grow in the appropriate conditions also results in higher nutritional content. Food that is purchased out of season is typically harvested early and then refrigerated so that it does not rot during transportation. Thus produce is not allowed to fully mature and is not as nutritious as it would be if it were eaten in season.
Environment. Eating in season is also easier on the environment. Aside from farmer’s being able to replenish soil by rotating their crops, there is less need for chemicals to preserve the food in its unripen state as well as less need for fuel to refrigerate and transport the produce.
Economy. Not only does eating in season give on fresher and nutritious produce but it is also easier on the pocket book. In season produce is harvested in abundance making it a simple matter of supply and demand.
So what should I be eating now? Spring is here, so it is time to move away from the heavy comfort foods and into some lighter fare. A list of in season produce has been provided below to assist you on your next trip to the grocery store.
Spring Produce
· Apricots
· Artichokes
· Asparagus
· Avocados
· Beets
· Bok Choy
· Broccoli
· Cabbage
· Celery
· Greens
· Mint
· Mushrooms
· Peas
· Peppers
· Radishes
· Rhubarb
· Spinach
· Squash
· Strawberries
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