We as a nation have so many options available with fruits and vegetables. Pretty much everything is available year-round. Have you wondered what your great grandparents would think about the food options we have today? Strawberries in the middle of winter in Minnesota? I think the only strawberries they would have had would be in the form of jams and jellies during the winter.
I have thought about this over the last few years and because of that, I have tried to incorporate eating with the seasons a bit more. So, what does this mean to “eat with the seasons”?
It basically means you purchase/grow and consume around the seasons. There are advantages to this especially if most your purchases are from local sources. Eating fruits and vegetables in season will be fresher, taste better, more nutritious, and often less expensive. If you purchase from local sources, it is more sustainable and better for the environment. Think about all the natural resources to bring those fresh strawberries to your table in January! How far did they have to be shipped?
I am not saying this is easy. As of yet, I have not totally incorporated everything to be local and in season, but I am expanding my menu to do this. It does take more planning. Yet, for our grandparents and great grandparents this was most likely their way of life.
How to Get Started
- Research what fruits and vegetables are in season for your area. Obviously, there won’t be much growing here in Minnesota during the winter. One thing I am going to do is grow microgreens throughout the winter in a sunny window. I will let you know how that goes.
- Preserving in season fruits and vegetables for use later in the year through freezing, dehydrating, pickling, or canning are all great options. The past two years I have done more of this to preserve my garden harvest. Here is a great book I have been using to preserve food.
Now, you might think how in the world can I do this? Well, maybe just start by adding more in season produce to your meal plans. When grocery shopping, check out what produce is offered from local farms. Better yet, check out your local farmer’s market. Branching out from your “regular” list of produce can expand your dietary options. In addition, this can provide more vitamins and minerals to nourish your body.
Here is a list of general “fall” produce available.
However, your local area may have a different list.
- Acorn squash
- Asian pear
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage (check out this sauerkraut recipe which is a great way to preserve cabbage)
- Cauliflower
- Cranberries
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Kohlrabi
- Mushrooms
- Pears (check out this pear sauce recipe)
- Persimmons
- Plums
- Pumpkin (check out the health benefits of pumpkin and recipes to try)
- Sweet Potato
- Swiss Chard
- Turnip
Do you think you could incorporate eating some of your food only seasonally? What produce do you eat only seasonally now? If you want to learn more about eating seasonally here in Minnesota, check out Minnesota’s Bounty Cookbook.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Heather
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