We live in a world where food is accessible and available for our consumption all year-round. And yes, while this constant access to nearly every food under the sun has its advantages, always turning to staple items or following the whims of trends and obscure cravings means missing out on the benefits of seasonal eating. Because most of us rarely stop to think about if a cucumber or strawberry is in season when deciding what to eat on the daily, we usually and unknowingly settle for less nutritious and flavorful foods—essentially robbing our bodies, and ourselves, of what we truly deserve: the absolute best!
So let's talk a little about how we even get produce that is not naturally in season.
The unsettling truth of how out-of-season food gets to grocery store aisles might just be reason enough for you to begin eating more in alignment with the seasons. The truth is, most produce that is not locally grown can be up to a year old. And what’s worse, it’s kept “fresh-looking” thanks to freezer containers that halt ripening during transportation. The produce is then gassed with ethylene to induce rapid ripening, creating the illusion of picturesque perfection for when it arrives on the grocery store shelves.
This process not only strips fruits and vegetables of a large portion of their nutrients, but also replaces them with chemicals, which results in produce that cannot satisfy our bodies’ nutritional needs and fills us with unnecessary junk.
On top of this unnatural process our food undergoes to be readily available all year round, another reason to eat with the seasons is that our bodies actually crave seasonal foods and naturally react to the shift of the different seasons.
With summer rolling in, you may notice you’ll start to intuitively crave the flavors and sensations that come with it. Generally, we tend to start leaning towards lighter, crisp, and more refreshing foods to combat the warm summer air and put aside our warmer, more comforting foods for the winter months. This pattern can be traced back to our ancestors, who lived off of local fruit and vegetables, which formed a supportive connection between nutritional needs and the cycles of the growing seasons.
If we're looking to return to our roots, metaphorically and literally, it means opting for produce that honors our body’s cravings, like our ancestors once did and building a deeper awareness of food seasons. By doing this, we can cultivate this relationship between ourselves and the earth, which results in incredible health benefits, as it allows our body to naturally thrive.
Additionally, food has healing properties when used correctly. It has the power to fortify our health and act as a healer from the inside-out. When we receive the correct macros, vitamins, and minerals, every system in our body gets a boost of energy, leading to more productive overall function and optimization.
Eating seasonal, local, whole foods helps our bodies naturally detoxify as well, meaning the process of eliminating all the waste and toxins in our body, which improves digestion and creates a diverse gut microbiome that helps us process our food more effectively. Eating nutrient-dense foods also helps build up the structural integrity of our bodies, strengthening membranes, tissues, and organs for optimal health.
All that, from simply eating intuitively and trusting the seasons to guide our weekly grocery haul. Not sold? Let's dive deeper into seven reasons to turn to seasonal, locally grown produce this summer:
1. Enjoy produce when it's fresh and most flavorful
Fruits and vegetables harvested in season are at their prime, meaning the flavor, texture, and smell of all seasonal produce will be the best of the best. This makes them ideal ingredients for leveling up meals and bringing delicious, whole foods and healthy variety into our diets.
2. Receive maximum nutritional value
When fruits and vegetables are consumed in season, they are at their ripest point and naturally filled with the maximum amount of nutrients. Seasonal produce adds highly nutrient-dense food to our meals, which act as natural supplements, providing our bodies with the essential vitamins and minerals we need to fight off viruses and illnesses.
3. Learn to eat intuitively
Eating intuitively is a skill, and like all skills, it can be learned. We are accustomed to eating out of sync with nature, so re-teaching ourselves to listen to what our bodies need requires time and patience. Yet, once we begin eating with, instead of against, our bodies’ desires, they will balance out, helping guide future healthy eating habits and reducing cravings for refined, processed foods.
4. Support local farmers
A great way to find seasonal produce is to shop local farmer’s markets, which not only give us access to fresh produce, but also supports local businesses and gives back to our community.
5. Protect the environment
The closer our food is grown to us, the better! Food miles—the distance and time food travels from where it is grown to where it is consumed—is quickly becoming one of the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions across the globe. By shopping locally, we’re not only getting high-quality produce, but advocating for an environmentally-friendly food system, rather than contributing to the negative impact of our current one.
6. Spend less money on produce
Often, produce that is out of season is priced higher, as a result of a lack of supply and the importation infrastructure required to attain it. Yet, in season produce is abundant and easily accessible, making prices affordable and budget-friendly.
7. Experience new recipes
A major upside to eating seasonally is the fun that comes with discovering new recipes. Try picking one or a few seasonal ingredients and find recipes that highlight them. Maybe that looks like adding sliced peaches or blackberries to morning yogurt bowls, or tossing together arugula, cucumbers, and strawberries for a crisp, seasonal salad on a hot day. This is the perfect way to add variety to our diets, increase our gut flora, optimize the rich flavors of the season, and improve our skills in the kitchen– all in one.
So the next time you are at your local grocery store, take this as your sign to look at what fruits and vegetables are in season before reaching for your go-to’s. Or better yet, hit up your favorite farmer’s market! Your body will thank you later.
