Why Should I Eat A Seasonal Diet?

As seasons change so do our diets. With the hot air and spells of humidity that summer brings, we tend to gravitate towards light, fresh, raw foods that will hydrate us and keep us cool. In the winter time, we look for those hearty, filling meals that will give us comfort and warmth. It's not just a coincidence that we crave these different types of foods depending on the season. Eating seasonally keeps us in tune with the Earth and the cycles of Nature. Seasonal eating provides us with the right type of fuel to protect us from the climate as our environment provides the best foods to support our health and keep us in balance. Eating seasonally is an essential step in attaining and maintaining overall health and gets us re-acquainted with our own body cycles.

What is seasonal eating? 

Simply put, seasonal eating refers to eating a diet rich in foods that are at their peak at any given time of the year. This is usually the time where these foods are the freshest, most flavourful, and highly nutritious being full of vitamins and minerals that our body calls for. For example, in the summer time our gardens are full of juicy fruits and vegetables such as cucumber, melons, berries, corn, tomatoes, and zucchini. In the winter time, we will commonly find root vegetables and foods that take more time to prepare, such as carrots, squash, potatoes, beets, and turnips in our gardens. Seasonal eating has been practiced since ancient civilizations as people ate what nature produced according to the seasons.

Is seasonal eating sustainable? 

Yes. Seasonal eating is the most sustainable way of eating because it encourages us to buy locally. By purchasing local foods or by growing foods that are fit for our climate in our gardens, we are eliminating environmental damage that is caused by shipping foods from thousands of miles away. By purchasing and eating seasonal foods, we are also supporting our local farmers! It is an economical diet that can give us some of the cleanest foods because fewer chemicals are needed to store or ship them and helps us to avoid processed and modified foods. Majority of us living in the city don't have a garden, so always think to yourself, if I were to grow this fruit, vegetable, herb, or grain in my backyard would it survive the climate throughout the season? If yes, then try to stick to buying and eating these foods.

Should I eat local and seasonal foods all of the time? 

Since I am a big believer of living in moderation and finding a good balance in everything, eating seasonal foods ALL of the time may not be realistic for many of us. Although I encourage eating local and seasonal foods, I do not think that we need to completely cut out foods that are shipped from abroad. I admit, I love the way ripe mango tastes when you eat it off of the pit and bananas with peanut butter are one of my favourite snacks. I like having variation in my diet and try to make things interesting by adding ingredients to my recipes that may not be local. The key is to cut down on these foods, not cut them out completely and to predominantly use local seasonal foods. You will find that I will not only use ingredients in my recipes that are local, but the ingredients will be seasonal and may be found during this time of year in other regions.