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The Benefits of Seasonal Eating and How to Incorporate More Winter Foods into Your Diet
Do you and your family eat seasonally? Do you wonder what that even means? Would you like some easy recipes for the family that incorporate more winter produce into your daily nutrition?
Eating seasonally has been around for centuries. Before we had the ability to walk into our grocery stores and grab whatever produce we’d like at any time during the year, our ancestors had no choice but to eat seasonally. They could only eat the foods they had access to during specific seasons. While we might find this limiting now, think about how easy and simple it was to cook for your family. Sometimes too many options can be overwhelming!
From a nutritional standpoint, seasonal eating is beneficial because the produce is the freshest and most nutrient-dense during the peak of its season. From an environmental standpoint, seasonal eating reduces the need for long-distance transportation of food and the environmental impact associated with that because it assumes you are eating more locally grown produce. In addition, consuming produce when it is in season helps to support local farmers and in turn, your local economy.
Eating seasonally is a great way to prioritize your health throughout the year. If you’re looking for more health tips from a certified holistic nutritionist, then check out my 10 tips on ways to prioritize your health in the new year.
I’m willing to bet you eat somewhat seasonally without even realizing it or consciously making a decision to do so. When it comes to winter eating, the shift is seen from the lighter fare of summer to the more hearty foods of winter. We are drawn to more soups, stews and cozy, warm meals during the winter months. Sound familiar?
Winter produce includes root vegetables such as carrots, onions, potatoes, parsnips and turnips, as well as winter squashes and greens such as kale and swiss chard. Many winter fruits such as apples, citrus fruits, and pomegranates are also available.
Have you noticed these foods are more prevalent in the produce department of your grocery store during winter?
So why should you incorporate these winter foods into your diet? Winter produce is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that our bodies need during the winter months. Many of our favorite winter produce helps boost the immune system and provides the body with much-needed energy. Additionally, warm winter stews full of root veggies and other produce can help keep you full throughout the day and maintain a constant blood sugar level.
Plus, who doesn’t love sitting down to a cozy bowl of soup when it’s cold and snowy outside?!
One of the best ways to incorporate winter produce (or any new produce!) into your diet is to try new recipes. A new dinner recipe for the family can get everyone excited and inspired to help in the kitchen. Root vegetables can be roasted or mashed, winter squash can be pureed, and kale can be used in salads and soups. Winter fruits can be added to smoothies, oatmeal, and muffins. You can also try adding winter fruits and vegetables to curries, stews, and casseroles.
To make sure you’re getting the most out of winter produce, it’s important to buy seasonal, local produce whenever possible. You can also freeze or can produce to enjoy it year-round.
Since eating seasonally is beneficial for both your health and the environment, I’m sharing 10 Winter Produce Recipes to help inspire more seasonal eating. So don’t be afraid to grab those oranges, squash, kale or apples at the grocery store. I’ve got the perfect recipe waiting for each of those!
Now print off your favorite recipe, get shopping and cook a cozy, winter-inspired meal for your family!
Oh, and if you specifically want some more cozy recipes that are easy breakfast recipes for the whole family then head over to this blog post ASAP!
Wishing you health and wellness,
Ashley