Wandering through the grocery aisles, you might head towards your favorite summer foods. You find the tomatoes you are getting from a country far away do not taste quite as good as the tomatoes grown in the farm up the road from you. Your local fruit is filled with flavor, bursting at the seams with juicy sweetness.
LOCALLY GROWN
Eating fruits and vegetables grown locally can make a significant difference in your life and your community. You will find the foods pack a punch in flavor, offer the greatest nutritional value, and that you can be assured of their quality. You can choose organic produce bought in bulk at a considerable discount. Your purchase in turn, helps the farmer and supports the community.
We live in a time where we can have food at our fingertips from anywhere in the globe at almost a moment’s notice. However, worldwide distribution has also resulted in a substantial increase in processed foods and foods that traveled more than a thousand miles to get to us, often reveals an associated wear and tear, with less flavor and nutrition. Some foods are also heavily laden with chemical agents, preservatives, and wax coatings to protect them and make them last longer in the journey.
Eating foods in season is not only synonymous with many cherished memories (eating watermelon in the summer, squash at Thanksgiving, etc.) but also offers a natural balance for nutrition.
WINTER
Ward off winter colds with a dose of beta carotene found naturally in pumpkins and squash. Eating nuts also offers rich nutrients desired by the body as the temperature falls. Look for foods with the most color, because they are packed with the most nutritional value. By eating seasonally, you get the most flavor and nutrition in your foods. Winter also relies on fall favorites as well as nuts, corn, and eggs.
SPRING
In spring, look for spinach, Swiss chard, Romaine lettuce, basil, dill, and parsley.
SUMMER
In summer, when fruit ripens to maturity, turn to apples, strawberries, plums, pears, mint, cilantro, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, and summer squash.
FALL
Fall invokes harvest foods of carrots, garlic, ginger, and potatoes. By simply steaming or sautéing food, and adding freshly ground black pepper, salt, and a few spices, you can bring out the natural flavor of foods.
VARIETY IN FOODS
The best diet contains a good variety of foods so make your meals enjoyable by focusing on fresh produce, trying out a new item every week, and trying new recipes. Check out recipes on the web or share with your friends and family. Enjoy delicious, wholesome meals that you look forward to every day. Try out new cuisine ideas from different regions and check out handy tips offered by grocers and cooks above foods and in the fish, poultry, vegetable, and cheese areas. Subscribe to a healthy food magazine where you fill find a ton of ideas on preparing food for each season and special occasions, with dietary considerations as well. By choosing carefully, you can enjoy hearty, delicious fare every season.
