The Benefits of Eating Seasonal Produce
There’s something special about eating foods when they’re at their peak. Seasonal produce can bring more flavor and variety to your meals, but there are also several benefits that may make you want to pay closer attention to what’s in season.
In Episode 68 of Wellness for Real People, we explore the Mayo Clinic article “Picked at Their Peak: The Benefits of Buying Seasonal Produce” and take a look at why seasonal fruits and vegetables can be a great addition to your diet—especially as we head into fall.
Four Benefits of Seasonal Produce
1. It Can Be Better for Your Health
Produce harvested during its proper season has more time to mature on the plant, which can make it more nutrient-dense. Eating a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables is one way to add more nutrients and variety to your meals.
Seasonal produce may also be grown locally, depending on where you live, giving you access to fresh foods while supporting local farmers and growers.
2. It Tastes Better
There’s a reason certain foods seem to taste especially good at certain times of the year. Seasonal produce is harvested when it is at its peak, which can mean better flavor.
Think about biting into a crisp, juicy apple in the fall or adding fresh seasonal squash to a warm meal. Eating with the seasons can make healthy foods more enjoyable and inspire new recipes.
3. It Can Save You Money
One of the biggest surprises from the article was that seasonal produce can also be easier on your wallet. Because seasonal foods are typically more plentiful, they may be sold at better prices.
That means you can potentially get high-quality, flavorful produce while keeping more money in your pocket.
4. It Can Be Better for the Environment
Choosing seasonal produce can also have environmental benefits. The episode discusses how buying seasonal foods can help reduce water and land use, pollution, and soil degradation.
Fall Produce to Put on Your List
As we move into fall, there are plenty of nutritious fruits and vegetables to enjoy.
Cranberries are a seasonal favorite, typically appearing from October through December. They contain nutrients including vitamin C, folate, beta-carotene, lutein, potassium, and manganese. They also freeze well, making it easy to enjoy them beyond their peak season.
Apples are another fall staple. With varieties ranging from Honeycrisp and Fuji to Cosmic Crisp and many others, fall is a great time to enjoy apples at their peak. Apples also provide fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.
Butternut squash is a versatile fall vegetable that stores well and provides nutrients such as vitamins A and C, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants.
And don't forget sweet potatoes. They're particularly popular during the fall and winter and are rich in beta-carotene, fiber, and antioxidants.
Make Seasonal Eating Part of Your Routine
Eating seasonally doesn't have to be complicated. Start by checking what's available at your local grocery store or farmers market, then look for simple ways to incorporate those ingredients into meals and snacks.
Frozen produce can also be a convenient option. Frozen fruits and vegetables can help reduce food waste and provide a nutritious ingredient to keep on hand when fresh produce isn't available or doesn't get eaten quickly.
The Bottom Line
Seasonal produce offers four key benefits: it can be better for your health, taste better, save you money, and benefit the environment.
This fall, try adding a few seasonal fruits and vegetables to your grocery list. From crisp apples and cranberries to butternut squash and sweet potatoes, eating with the seasons can be a simple and delicious way to add variety to your meals and support your overall well-being.
As always, start with small changes and find what works for you.
Article: https://diet.mayoclinic.org/us/blog/2022/picked-at-their-peak-the-benefits-of-buying-seasonal-produce/
