How to Eat Through the Seasons

Winter, spring, summer, fall--a James Taylor song? No, just the seasons going ‘round and ‘round. And with the seasons, produce also goes around, some “in season”, some “out of season.” But what does that really mean to you? Why should you buy produce when it’s in season? Well, in the first place, produce that is in season is much tastier, and most often, fresher. And research suggests that freshly picked produce is also much higher in nutrients, which means a healthier you. So if you pay attention to the seasons, and choose your fruits and vegetables accordingly, you’ll have great success at eating healthfully and enjoying your foods to the highest extent possible.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A list of the fruits and vegetables that are the freshest, according to the season
• A few good cookbooks, devoted to seasonal cooking

1. Try to pay attention to what produce is the freshest according to the season. Since it’s not possible to tell just by looking, you should have a list of foods and their corresponding season. Here is a partial list of some good seasonal produce that you can buy:
   
   Spring
   Think frogs in the pond. Dewy grass in the morning. Leaves slowly taking shape on the trees. Think green. Look for green vegetables like lettuces, chard, spinach and fresh herbs.
   
   Summer
   Berries, berries, berries and more berries! Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries in late summer are all fresh and delicious during the summer months. Also, melon, cucumber, zucchini, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and corn are sweet summer babies.
   
   Fall
   In the fall, the apple orchards are heavy with falling fruit. Also, pears ripen and fall, juicy and sweet. You can also enjoy beets, eggplant, carrots, sweet potatoes, onions and garlic.
   
   Winter
   During the winter, think root vegetables, like potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic and squash. Roast a myriad of root vegetables in your oven at 400 degrees, tossed with some olive oil and herbs. It’s a comforting winter treat.

2. Shop for foods that are in season where you live, rather than for foods that may be in season somewhere else. Pay attention to what is freshly picked in your area.
   
   Some foods that are commonly shipped from afar are asparagus, bell peppers, tomatoes, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, peaches, nectarines and papayas. When you buy any of these foods, make sure that they are fresh and seasonal according to where you live.
   
   It is obviously not possible to buy everything locally and seasonally. Try to buy locally as much as possible, but if you are a New Englander really craving that orange or grapefruit during the winter months, then by all means, go for it!

3. Find recipes that feature seasonal foods. There are a lot of them around, and even some cookbooks fully dedicated to seasonal cooking. “The Farmer’s Market Cookbook” is a wonderful book with recipes using the freshest ingredients according to season. Or you can try Molly O’Neill’s cookbook, “A Well-Seasoned Appetite: Recipes for Eating with The Seasons, The Senses, and The Soul.” Do your own research and see what you can come up with. Visit your local library, or search online. There are plenty of recipes out there that are devoted to the seasons.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to also plan out your proteins by season, if you can. For example, some fish is most often the freshest during the summer months. And beef can be a warm addition to a meal during the cold winter. Roast turkey for fall, chicken wings on the grill in the spring. Meats can be seasonal, too.
• When buying locally, don’t let the beautiful, shiny, perfect produce fool you. Chances are that the more visually appealing fruits and veggies don’t pack as much punch when it comes to flavor. Your best bet is to go for locally grown, organic foods, when you possibly can--spots and all.